Steve Cooper should unleash this untapped asset for Leicester City vs Everton, yet to start this season – opinion
This Leicester City new signing should be Steve Cooper's top choice to start against Everton.
Leicester City will be aiming to secure their first victory of the 2024/25 Premier League season when they face a struggling Everton at the King Power Stadium.
This match represents a significant opportunity for Steve Cooper’s side to build on their recent performances against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, where they were unfortunate to come away with just one point from both fixtures.
Leicester has shown improvement in attack in recent weeks, yet Cooper may still consider rotating his lineup against Everton, as he has a wealth of squad depth at his disposal.
One potential change could be dropping Jordan Ayew, whose performance against his former team, Crystal Palace, was underwhelming.
This might open the door for one of Leicester’s summer signings to make their first start under Cooper.
Among the attacking options Cooper could consider are new signings Odsonne Edouard, Facundo Buonanotte, and Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
However, the player who should be top of Cooper’s list to add a new dynamic to the attack is Bilal El Khannouss.
Signed for a significant fee this summer, El Khannouss has only made one appearance for Leicester so far, coming off the bench in their home defeat to Aston Villa.
El Khannouss has the potential to revolutionize Leicester City’s attacking approach.
In the recent 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace, Stephy Mavididi and Jamie Vardy both found the back of the net, contributing to a strong offensive display.
While Mavididi and Vardy are likely to keep their starting roles, Ayew’s place is less certain after his lackluster showing. El Khannouss could provide a fresh spark on the wing.
Although El Khannouss is most comfortable playing centrally in midfield, his creativity and flair could be a valuable asset out wide, especially with Wilfred Ndidi cementing his place in the team after delivering two assists against Crystal Palace.
El Khannouss proved during his time with Genk that he can transform a team, and he could bring the same impact to Leicester’s attack.
With Vardy operating as a central poacher, Leicester would benefit more from having a creative playmaker on the wing rather than another goal-scorer.
El Khannouss’ skill set and statistical profile suggest he could fill this role effectively, potentially unlocking even more from Vardy’s game.
His inclusion would not only enhance the creativity and fluidity of Leicester’s play but also create more goal-scoring opportunities for Vardy.
As Leicester prepares to face Everton, introducing El Khannouss could be the key to maximizing their attacking potential and securing that much-needed first win of the season.
