Leicester City will be fairly confident in their ability to adjust back to the Premier League after the crushing blow of relegation at the end of the 2022/23 season. However, Steve Cooper faces a significant challenge to prove he is the right man to lead them back to the top league, having only managed 11 wins from 54 Premier League games to date.
Cooper could quickly endear himself to Foxes fans by making some exciting signings and clearing out underperforming players. This includes a high-profile player who cost the club a significant sum: Harry Souttar. The former Stoke City centre-back was brought to Leicester in 2023 for £15 million, with hopes that he could become a Premier League-caliber star. Unfortunately, the move has not worked out for the Australian international. He has only managed 16 appearances over two seasons, with former manager Enzo Maresca giving him just three league appearances during Leicester’s promotion campaign before moving on to Chelsea.
Souttar’s performance has declined sharply, especially after his impressive displays in the EFL, and his reputation has suffered further due to Maresca’s decision to exclude him from the starting lineup. Consequently, Cooper will likely try to offload the underperforming defender. However, this could prove challenging as Leicester will want to recoup some of the £15 million they spent on him.
Interest from clubs like Rangers in Scotland might provide an opportunity for Leicester to sell Souttar. Despite his lack of club minutes, his international performances for Australia may still attract suitors. Leicester would be eager to offload him, especially given his hefty wage. According to Capology, Souttar is earning £40,000 per week at King Power Stadium, despite starting only one league game in the last Championship season.
This wage is double what Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall earned last season. Dewsbury-Hall had an outstanding campaign, contributing significantly to Leicester’s success with 27 goals and assists from 49 games. The homegrown midfielder’s performance has likely caught the attention of Premier League clubs, with Liverpool and Brighton previously linked to him. Despite this, Souttar’s wage remains inexplicably higher, highlighting the need for Cooper to address the wage bill.
With players like Dennis Praet and Kelechi Iheanacho already released, earning £75,000 and £80,000 per week respectively, Souttar could be the next to leave. Leicester will hope to recover some of their investment in Souttar, aiming for a positive resolution to an otherwise disappointing acquisition.
