Leicester City lose standout Fofana for the season

Leicester City find themselves in a defensive conundrum after 2020/21 standout defender Wesley Fofana was victim to a horrific challenge from Villareal’s Fer Nino, that left him with a broken leg.

This leaves Leicester with a big hole at centre back with just over a week to go before the season starts.

Fofana was subsequently taken to hospital following the pre-season game and confirmed Foxe’s fans worst fears:

"It is a bad day today but I am in a tremendous club with a wonderful medical team, I will give you news as soon as I have a final diagnosis but we already know that I have a fibula fracture."

Fofana was voted Leicester’s Young Player of the Season last year and when he was out injured, the team’s form faltered and is arguably what cost them a top-four position, so they will know just how big of a loss this is.

This injury leaves the Foxes with three first-team central defenders in Jonny Evans, Caglar Soyuncu and Filip Benkovic, who is yet to play a league game for the club. They also have Daniel Amartey who can play in defence and did at some points during Fofana’s absence last season.

It is most likely that Leicester will take a dip into the transfer market as though Evans and Soyuncu can play together, they do not offer the turn of pace to follow attackers that Fofana has.

In 2020/21, Fofana made 1.8 tackles per 90, 2.2 interceptions per 90 and 3.3 clearances per 90. His pace to cover defenders and intercept through balls became essential to Leicester through the season and will be incredibly hard to replace through the new season.

The Foxes will have to look at options as they try to fill this hole, but losing Fofana is a massive blow, especially at this late stage.