Leicester City are interested in a budget recruit who has impressed during Euro 2024. Despite winning the Championship last season, Leicester City has faced difficulties in recent weeks. The club has had to deal with the departure of their promotion-winning manager, Enzo Maresca, who has resigned to take over at Chelsea, while financial problems threaten to jeopardise their Premier League survival quest before it ever begins. The club’s efforts to comply with PSR and avoid any further penalties may force them to sell outstanding player and boyhood Leicester supporter Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall this summer, which would be a significant blow.
However, it is not all doom and gloom, as the signing of Slovenia midfielder Timi Max Elsnik could help new boss Steve Cooper. Leicester City’showing an interest’ in Slovenia’s Timi Max Elsnik. Even if they manage to keep Dewsbury-Hall, which is becoming increasingly difficult due to interest from Chelsea, Leicester will need to strengthen to their team this summer. The problem is that they are unlikely to have sufficient funds to do so.
With that in mind, the club is reportedly interested in a budget transfer for Elsnik, who has impressed at this summer’s Euros thus far. According to the Daily Mail, Leicester are’showing an interest’ in the 26-year-old Slovenian midfielder, who is expected to be available for £5.5 million this summer. Elsnik began his career with Derby County but now plays for Olympia Ljubljana in his birthplace. According to the article, Leicester are not the only ones who admire Elsnik, with fellow Premier League newcomers Southampton, Lyon, and Lazio also interested. Leicester target Elsnik was a notable performer against England in the Euros draw.
English football fans will have seen Elsnik for the first time after he played an important role in Slovenia’s 0-0 draw with England to finish Group C and seal qualification for both sides. In that game, he was part of a two-man midfield that had the difficult task of keeping Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham at bay. However, he did so with style, with Sky Sports referring to the 21-year-old as ‘anonymous after half-time’ while claiming he was ‘untidy in possession, and unable, for the most part, to restore his composure’. While the performance showed his defensive abilities, Elsnik excels at possession.
Former Derby academy director Darren Wassall saw a young Elsnik’s talent before bringing him into the academy and was full of praise for it in a recent interview. Wassall observed of Elsnik, “He could handle the ball, and his first touch was excellent.” “We have always looked for individuals that can play upfront. He knew where the next pass was going, had a fantastic left foot, rarely threw the ball away, and did not play it safe.He wasn’t concerned about making a mistake; creative players probably give the ball away a little more because they want to make something happen. “You always felt his technical ability was better at a higher level, playing with better players.”
With Slovenia poised to face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on Monday night, Leicester fans will get another look at their potential new signing. Leicester City are already preparing for life without Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall amid Chelsea speculation. Steve Cooper made it a point to retain Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after speaking with the 25-year-old during his first few days as manager.
However, the English midfielder is hoping to reunite with former Foxes manager Enzo Maresca, who has since taken over at Chelsea following his spectacular 2023/24 season with Leicester City, which won the Championship. Dewsbury-Hall scored an incredible 26 goals under Maresca, who appears to believe the midfielder can recreate his Premier League form with the London giants. Chelsea has offered Leicester City a variety of swap options, including former Leicester City player Cesare Casadei, who spent the start of the 2023/24 season on loan at the King Power Stadium. As a result of the current transfer crisis, Leicester City has chosen to look abroad for new opportunities.
