Three Leicester City players who could benefit from Ruud van Nistelrooy’s sacking, including a £48m star – opinion

Leicester City’s struggles stem from years of poor recruitment and mismanagement under Jon Rudkin, which have now left them in a dire position.

Following their defeat to Brentford on Friday, the Foxes remain 19th in the Premier League and could end the weekend five points adrift of safety.

While there is still time to stage a turnaround, Leicester’s recent form under Ruud van Nistelrooy offers little hope.

Their upcoming fixtures make survival an even more daunting challenge:

Thursday, 27th February – Premier League: West Ham vs. Leicester (21:00)

Sunday, 9th March – Premier League: Chelsea vs. Leicester (15:00)

Sunday, 16th March – Premier League: Leicester vs. Man Utd (20:00)

Wednesday, 2nd April – Premier League: Man City vs. Leicester (19:45)

Saturday, 5th April – Premier League: Leicester vs. Newcastle (15:00)

Saturday, 12th April – Premier League: Brighton vs. Leicester (15:00)

Saturday, 19th April – Premier League: Leicester vs. Liverpool (15:00)

Saturday, 26th April – Premier League: Wolves vs. Leicester (15:00)

With 10 defeats in their last 11 matches, Van Nistelrooy’s position is under serious scrutiny, and supporters are questioning whether he is the right man to lead the club forward.

If he is sacked or chooses to walk away, certain players could benefit from a managerial change.

Facundo Buonanotte

Buonanotte’s situation at Leicester is baffling. Once considered a key player, he has been reduced to a fringe role under Van Nistelrooy.

Since the managerial change in December, he has started just three league matches, much to the frustration of fans.

His performance off the bench against Brentford was promising, yet Van Nistelrooy continues to favor two slower, less creative wingers ahead of him.

If a new manager arrives, it seems likely that the Brighton loanee—valued at £48m—would be reinstated as a regular starter.

Stephy Mavididi

Mavididi finds himself in a similar predicament to Buonanotte.

Despite offering pace, directness, and a greater attacking threat, he has been largely overlooked in favor of Jordan Ayew and Bobby De Cordova-Reid, who have struggled to justify their continued selection.

While Mavididi is not without flaws, he at least provides a creative spark.

However, he has not completed a full 90 minutes in the Premier League since January 15th against Crystal Palace.

A managerial change could see him return to a more prominent role.

Michael Golding

With no transfer window available to bring in reinforcements, any new manager will need to look at fringe players and academy prospects to salvage the season.

One such player who could benefit is Michael Golding. Signed from Chelsea for £4m in the summer, the young midfielder is still awaiting his senior debut.

Given Leicester’s struggles, a change in leadership may finally provide him with an opportunity to showcase his talent.

As things stand, Leicester’s situation is precarious, and unless drastic improvements are made, their Premier League status is in serious jeopardy.