Outside of fans of Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, you’ll struggle to find anyone in football who holds any ill-will towards Leicester. But while claiming he carries any animosity towards the Foxes may be unfair, Aston Villa midfielder Jordan Veretout must be taking regular trips to the dentist after a season spent grimacing through gritted teeth.
As one of Ligue 1’s brightest prospects, and on the fringes of the France national team, last summer Veretout was presented with a choice: Villa or Leicester. The 23-year-old could be celebrating being a Premier League champion and no doubt in the conversation for Euro 2016; instead he’s preparing for life in the Championship.
And although Leicester failed to get their man then, it’s almost impossible to envisage them now missing out on any transfer targets to the English old guard of Villa, Everton, Newcastle or Liverpool (Europa League results pending).
For while Claudio Ranieri and his squad bask in the glow of their remarkable and refreshing Premier League triumph, the club are already feverishly planning for a title defence and a minimum six Champions League fixtures.
With just 12 players making more than 10 league starts, as Ranieri got lucky with injuries, it’s inconceivable they can build on or sustain what they’ve achieved with such a minimal approach. But despite being able to dangle the carrot of the world’s No1 club competition as well as a new-found fashionable allure to grow squad depth, they have to be extremely careful in how surgery is performed.
A glance at the favoured XI this term: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Albrighton; Vardy, Okazaki, doesn’t exactly reveal an alarming need for considerable upgrades. Danny Simpson could perhaps be upgraded with the need for a more creative and defensively-sound right-back, more finesse and craft in the positions of Marc Albrighton and Shinji Okazaki perhaps, but then that trio emphasise so much about what has made the Foxes great – hard work, selflessness and tactical discipline.
Ranieri will surely note Okazaki’s 393 minutes per goal, but removing the Japanese would also take away his relentless work ethic in hounding and pressing of defenders. A more accomplished finisher may not provide the sort of attributes that have proved so essential in their title charge.
Team spirit has underpinned everything. This is a special group that have almost come together by accident, with a mixture of misfits and clever economical signings overseen by a veteran manager much of Europe had given up on. And while Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy are ‘the stars’ as such, they are clumsy titles, and they’re two deeply understated headline acts.
There’s uniqueness in everything Leicester have done, from the context in how the title was won, to how the players function on and off the field. Each member of Ranieri’s squad is equal, with no room for ego or self-interest. There’s an almost socialist learning to how they’ve been forged. Injecting several or even just one significant addition could upset the apple cart. Whether it be a heightened profile, size of salary or simple personality, such a distinct but delicate chemistry needs to be carefully managed.
Success will present these issues but they’re luxury problems and Leicester’s recent track record in the transfer market – forensic analysis married with old fashioned instinct – implies they will more than likely get it right.
They’re also going to be operating in their own market. The genuine superstar names are unlikely to choose Leicester over any of Europe’s genuine heavyweights but at the same time they hold a Champions League-sized trump card over the next tier of club.
This all doesn’t take into account the prospect of players leaving or requesting new contracts, again potentially altering the balance.
Certainly N’Golo Kante’s reported £20m minimum fee release clause raises concern, with the French midfielder surely an eye-catching Euro 2016 performance away from more glamorous surroundings. But so much of what’s happened this season has confounded established norms and who’s to say he, or others, wouldn’t turn their backs on Madrid, Munich or Manchester to stick around for the next stage of the ride.
