Harry Souttar’s tenure at Leicester City has not unfolded as anticipated, leaving both the player and the club in an awkward position. Despite interest from several clubs in the January transfer window, Leicester’s choice to retain Souttar now seems increasingly perplexing.
Souttar, who moved to Leicester last January, was tasked with a monumental challenge: to help prevent the team’s relegation from the Premier League. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, Leicester faced relegation following Everton’s win against Bournemouth on the season’s final day, marking one of the most unexpected demotions since the inception of the Premier League.
Given his proven track record in the Championship with Stoke, expectations were high for Souttar to play a pivotal role in Leicester’s campaign to secure immediate promotion. However, his limited involvement, with only one start in the Championship and a couple of substitute appearances, has raised questions about his future at the club.
The decision to favor a rising academy player over Souttar in recent matches has made the club’s reluctance to loan or sell him even more confounding.
Leicester declined multiple offers for Souttar in January, despite his scant playing time. Clubs such as Sheffield United, Everton, Celtic, and Rangers showed interest in the Australian international. Souttar, with modest Premier League experience from 12 appearances last season, was seen as a fit for teams like Sheffield United and Everton, who were looking for defensive reinforcements.
The club’s decision to keep Souttar, standing at 6ft 8in, was interpreted as a sign of increased playing opportunities in the season’s latter half. Yet, his absence from the pitch since a pre-Christmas match against Rotherham casts doubt on this rationale.
The emergence of Ben Nelson has further complicated Souttar’s situation at Leicester. Nelson’s commendable performances, notably against Watford, have elevated his status within the team, overshadowing Souttar’s contributions.
With Leicester’s defensive lineup boasting Jannik Vestergaard, Wout Faes, Callum Doyle, and Conor Coady, the addition of Nelson has made Souttar’s path to the first team even more challenging.
Nelson, who had limited league experience from loan spells in League Two, has now surpassed Souttar in the pecking order after impressing in recent matches and in training.
Leicester’s reluctance to capitalize on Souttar’s market value, potentially around £15 million, has puzzled many, as the player’s stagnation benefits neither party.
Despite these challenges, Leicester City remains on a strong trajectory for automatic promotion. Leading the second spot by a considerable margin, the team looks set to secure promotion with several games to spare, irrespective of Souttar’s involvement.
