Leicester City left-back Victor Kristiansen is currently out on loan at Serie A side Bologna – and he has now decided whether he sees his future at the King Power.
Brendan Rodgers made the £17 million signing of Victor Kristiansen from Copenhagen in January 2023, making him the most expensive Danish Superliga player in history.
After arriving as a 20-year-old, the youngster took some time to adapt to the demands of top-flight football, although he did make 17 appearances in the final six months of last season.
During that time, Leicester saw their Premier League journey unravel before their eyes, and Kristiansen’s immediate future at the King Power Stadium was hanging in the balance, despite joining just months prior.
New manager Enzo Maresca wanted to mould his stamp his philosophy onto the side and unfortunately, the Danish dynamo didn’t fit into his plans.
The Italian signed Callum Doyle on loan from Manchester City to play that hybrid role of left-back/centre-back, and Kristiansen’s preference was to play as a left-back in a four-man defence which wasn’t granted in Maresca’s system.
As a result, he departed for Bologna at the end of August and has now decided his Leicester future.
Victor Kristiansen wants to leave Leicester City
According to Il Corriere dello Sport, via Football Italia, Kristiansen is unwilling to return to Leicester at the end of the season, but Bologna are unsure about making a move permanent.
Although the 21-year-old has impressed in the Serie A this term, supplying three assists in 18 appearances, the club’s directors are still weighing up the defender’s performances before making a final decision.
There is an option in Kristiansen’s contract that can trigger a deal permanent for €15m (£12.8m) so it will be interesting to see how his future pans out in the coming months, as it appears it’s going to be away from the King Power.
Kristiansen would have been a handy weapon for Enzo Maresca
Kristiansen desired to leave Leicester, but in hindsight, he would have been a useful weapon for Maresca to unleash in the Championship.
Man City loanee Doyle struggled with injury in the early stages of the campaign, which scuppered the Italian’s plans of using a back three, and instead he shuffled James Justin to left-back.
Justin has undoubtedly been tremendous, however, Kristiansen’s wand of a left foot would have provided some extra balance down the flank.
He’s an excellent young defender who is performing at a high level in Serie A, so he would have decimated the second tier with his quality.
The youngster can also play a variety of positions, operating as a midfielder and centre-back, and such versatility is paramount at any level.