A period of turmoil has followed Leicester City and supporters expect their situation to get worse when they host title-chasers Arsenal on Saturday lunchtime.
The Foxes find themselves in 18th place in the Premier League table. Leicester were thrashed 4-0 by Everton on their last outing in the league, as calls for Jon Rudkin to be sacked grew louder.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been handed the unenviable task of leading his side to survival and ahead of Leicester’s clash vs Arsenal, there have been talks of supporters making their voices heard.
It’s emerged that Leicester fans are planning a protest in the 14th minute against Arsenal, which relates to the Adrian Silva transfer saga.
The club thought they’d signed the Portuguese midfielder in August 2017, only to famously miss the deadline to register him by 14 seconds.
Fans are rightfully protesting over how their club has been run over the years and Martin Keown has also issued his concerns for one problem Van Nistelrooy has.
Martin Keown on Ruud van Nistelrooy’s biggest problem at Leicester
Leicester famously released Arsenal legend Keown in January 2005, despite him only joining the Gunners in the summer of 2004.
Now a pundit across various TV channels and radio stations, the Englishman has given his thoughts on one big issue facing the Premier League strugglers.
He feels that Van Nistelrooy over-relying on 38-year-old striker Jamie Vardy is a huge problem, and suggests there should be someone else feeling the pressure to lead the line.
“I think what their problem is when you’re relying on a 38-year-old striker in Vardy,” Keown said via talkSPORT.
“You get to those sort of numbers and that sort of age, it’s quite remarkable and a testament to him that he’s still there as almost the lone player.
“There’s one or two others maybe that have won a Premier League and FA Cup in their history. What he’s done there is remarkable. [But] he shouldn’t still be their best striker. They should have developed that by now.”
Keown aims a subtle dig at Leicester City owners
Leicester only signed one player during the January transfer window as Woyo Coulibaly arrived from Serie A side Parma.
Considering the issues in the squad, including no long-term replacement for Vardy, it’s remarkable that no money was invested amid issues with PSR.
Keown feels that not signing other players to score goals is a key issue, with the former Arsenal defender aiming a subtle dig at the Leicester City owners.
“That’s an issue for them, getting people to put the ball in the back of the net,” he added.
“They’ve not really had the expenditure, things have sort of slowed down in that direction in the last few years.”
With Vardy’s contract expiring in June 2025, Leicester need to accept that their talisman will retire sooner rather than later and plan for the day he does.