Leicester City will be looking to bolster their squad in the January transfer window with an onus on improving their defence.
Leicester have conceded the joint-most Premier League goals (42) alongside relegation rivals Wolves and must change their current fortunes to survive this term.
With the transfer window now open, rumours have begun to circulate the King Power Stadium, and the Foxes have their eyes on several full-backs.
It emerged on Friday that Leicester are in talks to sign Max Aarons, the Bournemouth right-back attracting interest from Europe, along with Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters.
Leicester are interested in signing Walker-Peters, who sees his contract at St Mary’s expire in June, with former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl previously waxing lyrical over the Englishman.
Ralph Hasenhuttl compared Leicester target Kyle Walker-Peters to Philipp Lahm
It’s become clear that Ruud van Nistelrooy needs to invest in a new full-back. James Justin has been poor this term while Danish star Victor Kristiansen has been criticised for his weaknesses.
The signing of Walker-Peters, who is yet to agree a new contract on the South Coast, would fit perfectly into this Foxes side.
The 27-year-old is known for his versatility, operating on the left side of defence, right or in midfield. With Ricardo Pereira currently out injured, the former Tottenham star would offer some invaluable experience.
Walker-Peters has made 132 appearances in the Premier League and during Ralph Hasenhuttl’s time in charge, the German compared his flying full-back to one of the greatest ever, Philipp Lahm.
Speaking about the Englishman’s versatility in February 2022, Hasenhuttl said via the Daily Echo: “We brought Kyle on the 10, a good opportunity and the first time we did it this way. I think this can be also something for the future.
“Kyle is an unbelievably smart footballer with a super football intelligence. He plays, left-back, right-back and now on the 10.
“In the sessions sometimes he plays six also, so he can play every position.
“He remembers me a little bit of Phillipp Lahm I must say, because he is so good on the ball, he always has good decisions. He can run and makes nearly any mistakes.”
German legend Lahm is regarded as one of the best full-backs of his generation, having won eight Bundesliga titles, a Champions League with Bayern Munich and a World Cup with Germany as captain in 2014.
Walker-Peters would be an excellent signing
Southampton look nailed on to get relegated to the Championship whereas there is hope that Leicester can survive the drop with January playing an important role.
Indeed, van Nistelrooy knows he must sign a full-back and Walker-Peters ticks every box. He’s quick, great at one-on-one defending, driving forward and making a difference in the final third.
With two assists in 17 appearances this term, Walker-Peters has been the shining light in a struggling Saints side.
So, if they can manage to prise the flying full-back to the King Power on a cut-price deal this month or on a free transfer in the summer, he would be an excellent coup.