Premier League Countdown: Unpredictable Leicester aching for stability
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The new Premier League season is inching ever nearer, so it’s time to start thinking about how the upcoming campaign will shake out.
In the build-up to the new season we’re profiling each of the 20 top-flight clubs, from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to Premier League newboys Brighton & Hove Albion.
Our next team in the spotlight is Leicester City…
From the highs of 5000/1 Premier League champions, Leicester’s title defence last season was pitiful.
Claudio Ranieri was unceremoniously shown the door, and then the Foxes decided to play football once again under Craig Shakespeare.
With the limelight now firmly off them once more, will they settle into mid-table stability?
There hasn’t been much for Leicester fans to get excited about over the summer. Harry Maguire is a smart purchase to succeed the ageing Wes Morgan and Robert Huth.
But the only other arrival of note is Vicente Iborra, the highly-rated midfielder from Sevilla.
It’s quite a coup for the East Midlands outfit though, and Iborra will give them that steel in the middle which was sorely lacking last term following N’Golo Kante’s departure.
And having kept Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez (for now) Leicester should still be a decent force up front.
The concern however, is that this Leicester side are only ever amazing when there’s a league title to steal or a new manager to impress, but without that impetuous, they’ve been dire.
So, which Leicester will we see this season?
Leicester City – 2017-18
Key arrivals: Vicente Iborra, Harry Maguire
Key departures: None
Man to watch: Riyad Mahrez (if he stays)
Title odds: 200/1
Best bet: Top half finish @ 10/11
We say: Perhaps the most difficult team to call this season. The glory days of Premier League success are well behind them and they must return to mid-table mediocrity. How will that impact the players? Summer spending has been limited, but on paper at least this team should be in the top-ten. But then everyone said that last year…
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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
