Leicester City currently sits comfortably atop the Championship table, enjoying a six-point lead over second-placed Ipswich Town and an 11-point cushion over third-placed Southampton. Enzo Maresca’s impactful leadership has steered the Foxes towards a promising return to the Premier League, despite the departure of key players James Maddison and Harvey Barnes in the summer transfer window.
As the January transfer window looms, Maresca has the chance to bolster his title-bound squad further, although this may also entail the departure of certain players. Notably, one such player on the radar for a potential exit is Dennis Praet, who came close to securing a move in the previous summer window.
Maresca addressed the upcoming transfer window, commenting, “In this moment, I don’t want them to think about January, even if they are probably thinking already about January, some of them, because it’s normal. We’ll see in January if some of them are coming to ask to leave, we’ll see how we can find solutions for them and also for us. The only thing I can say is that, for us, the situation is quite clear in terms of the January market. We know as a club what we need. We’ll see.”
Notably, reports from Italy, as relayed by Sport Witness, suggest that Torino has made initial contact to secure the services of Praet, who has found limited playing time under Maresca at Leicester. Torino manager Ivan Juric’s fondness for the midfielder might finally culminate in a successful transfer. With Praet’s contract set to expire next summer, it remains to be seen whether Torino will aim for a permanent deal or a loan agreement at the commencement of the transfer window next month.
Once touted as a player with the potential to elevate Leicester, Praet has faced stalled progress at The King Power, struggling to secure regular opportunities under Maresca’s leadership. His statistics underscore his challenges, having started just one league game and featuring in a mere six matches, with five appearances off the bench. His sole start in the ongoing campaign occurred in the EFL Cup during a comfortable 2-0 victory over Burton Albion. It appears evident that a move could be beneficial for Praet.
This turn of events represents a stark contrast to the praise showered upon Praet by former manager Brendan Rodgers upon his initial signing. Praet’s initial role was envisioned as providing an offensive midfield spark to complement the squad. Rodgers expressed his confidence in Praet’s abilities and his potential to contribute positively to the team.
As the transfer window approaches, the resolution of Praet’s future at Leicester will undoubtedly be a focus amidst the club’s ongoing pursuit of promotion back to the Premier League.
