In Focus: Why Rodgers is keen on another Fox in the box

Leicester are on the prowl for a new Fox in the box. 

According to reports, boss Brendan Rodgers is looking to strengthen his forward line this summer, despite recently extending the contract of in-form striker Kelechi Iheanacho. 

The 24-year-old’s impressive performances do not appear enough to stop the club from splashing the cash this summer, with Celtic forward Odsonne Edouard believed to top their wishlist. 

Ahead of Leicester’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton this evening, we explore why the Foxes are so determined to improve what appears to be a position of strength at the King Power Stadium.

The party never stops… or does it?

For seven seasons now, Jamie Vardy has terrorised Premier League defences. 

He has scored 115 top-flight goals in that period and claimed the Golden Boot last season after netting 23 times. 

The 34-year-old began the campaign in fine form but has scored just one league goal since the turn of the year and his blistering start has well and truly fizzled out. 

Injuries have disrupted the frontman’s season and he has missed seven matches for Leicester. 

Across 2018-19 and 2019-20, he only missed a combined total of eight. 

Vardy’s game time will clearly have to be managed moving forward — and signing another striker would allow that to happen.

Could the bubble burst?

Iheanacho is in the form of his career — but how sustainable is it? 

It is only the second time in six seasons the former Manchester City man has exceeded five league goals. 

Furthermore, the 31-cap Nigeria international is significantly outperforming his expected goals total of 4.9, so it is perhaps too early to know whether this is the new normal or an anomaly. 

Leicester are not in a position to wait and find out. Not if they are regularly going to compete for a top-four finish.

Spreading the goals

Vardy has one goal in 2021, yet he is still the only Leicester player to hit double figures. 

That is not necessarily a damning indictment of the team but it suggests they are over-reliant on their veteran marksman. 

Prior to Boxing Day, when Vardy had scored 11 in 13, the Foxes had won 64% of their matches in the Premier League and not drawn a game. 

Since then, Leicester have won just 47% of their matches, along with drawing a further five. 

Without Vardy’s goals, Rodgers’ men are not turning draws into wins.

Opportunity

It is not often a player of Edouard’s ability is available for a reasonable price. 

Since moving to Celtic on a permanent basis, the Frenchman has scored 53 goals in the Scottish Premiership and 72 across all competitions. 

He is currently averaging 17 league goals per season and his output appears to be transferable. 

The 23-year-old has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, meaning if teams create chances he is likely to finish them off — no matter what league he is playing in.

Reports suggest the former Paris Saint-Germain youngster is available for as little as £15million.

That is a bargain when you consider Celtic pocketed £20m for Moussa Dembele, who never matched Edouard’s career-high 22 league goals at Parkhead.

Build from a position of strength

You never know what is around the corner in football. The project at Leicester, right now, is an exciting one. 

The club needs to leverage that, in order to ensure they continue to challenge for the top four. 

If they are not bullish in the transfer market, they might not get such opportunities again. 

Signing a striker from a position of strength could be key to Leicester’s continued chances of Champions League qualification — and their long-term future as a result.