Leicester City have some really talented youngsters coming through the academy.
Ben Nelson is being tipped for a bright future and many expect him to be Leicester’s starting centre-back next season.
Oxford United fans have been really impressed with Nelson and some have even compared him to Manchester City’s John Stones.
Jake Evans is also highly regarded by Leicester coaches, whilst Jeremy Monga is being linked with all the top clubs in Europe.
Will Alves is another promising academy product and now Cardiff City’s local reporter has just given his honest verdict on how he’s fared on loan.
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Will Alves really impressing at Cardiff City
Cardiff City fans have been really impressed with Will Alves since his arrival in the January transfer window.
And, WalesOnline’s Glen Williams, who covers all things Cardiff, has even been surprised by how well he’s adapted to the Championship.
“Just how easily he has taken to Championship football,” Williams told Leicestershire Live. “I appreciate Leicester fans were excited about him and hyping him before the move, but my expectations were relatively low given his age, inexperience at senior level and the ‘unknown’ factor, but he has superseded my expectations.
“Even his calmness with the ball and his ability to ride defenders, who are famously sharp-elbowed at this level, given his comparatively light frame is impressive. Put it this way, he’s not had a bad game yet.”
Asked if he can start for Leicester in the second-tier next season, Williams replied: “I see no reason why not. He would at least be well in the conversation.
“Expectations are higher for teams challenging at the other end of the table, so the margins for error will likely be smaller, but this spell in south Wales will have done him a world of good.
“He has eight games to help Cardiff stay in this division and if he can grab a goal or two, or set another couple up, it will catapult him to the forefront of the Leicester boss’s mind for next season, I suspect.”
Alves is ready to start for Leicester
Leicester are near certain to suffer relegation back to the Championship.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 17 |  WolvesWolves | 29 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 40 | 58 | -18 | 26 |
| 18 |  IpswichIpswich | 29 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 28 | 62 | -34 | 17 |
| 19 |  LeicesterLeicester | 29 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 65 | -40 | 17 |
| 20 |  SouthamptonSouthampton | 29 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 21 | 70 | -49 | 9 |
The Foxes are nine points adrift of safety, so realistically, Ruud van Nistelrooy will already have one eye on next season.
Alves should be at the forefront of his plans as he’s clearly ready to make the next step in his promising career.
He’s flourished in a relegation-threatened side, which isn’t easy, so the next level up is being involved in a promotion campaign.
Van Nistelrooy should give him that opportunity.