A Crystal Palace star who wants to leave may be able to solve a key issue for Leicester City and Steve Cooper.
The Foxes are gearing up for the 2024/25 Premier League season, which begins for them on Monday, August 19th, versus Tottenham Hotspur.
Steve Cooper has arrived at the King Power Stadium this summer to replace now-Chelsea boss, Enzo Maresca.
Leicester City have signed four new senior players in the current window, and further additions are likely.
It is understood Leicester want to strengthen in four positions before deadline day later this month, with a left-back, central midfielder, winger, and a striker all targeted.
Jamie Vardy is injured and will miss the start of 2024/25 as a result, making the need for a new striker even more urgent.
Leicester are the frontrunners to sign Chelsea’s David Fofana, which will help fill the void left by Vardy.
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Leicester City should target Crystal Palace man
However, another injury issue in the Foxes’ squad may necessitate the need for another area to be targeted.
Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk suffered an injury in training last month and has undergone surgery.
The shot-stopper is now expected to be out of action for around six months, leaving Cooper short of quality options between the sticks.
Mads Hermansen is expected to act as Leicester’s number one in the coming campaign but with Stolarczyk out, Danny Ward is now Cooper’s current number-two – a situation few of the club’s fans are likely pleased about.
Now though, a recent transfer development could hand Leicester a solution to their goalkeeper issue.
TalkSPORT report that Crystal Palace and England goalkeeper Sam Johnstone wants to leave Selhurst Park this summer after falling behind Dean Henderson in the pecking order.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton, and Nottingham Forest are all named as interested parties but Leicester should also pursue a move for the keeper as well.
Why Sam Johnstone is perfect Leicester City signing
Johnstone has three years left on his current Crystal Palace contract but with Henderson now the Eagles’ number one, they may be willing to let the 31-year-old go for a reduced fee.
The keeper began his career with Manchester United but has since featured for the likes of Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, and Palace.
He was also regularly selected by Gareth Southgate for England, though he did not see too much action ahead of Jordan Pickford and Aaron Ramsdale.
Regardless, Johnstone has proven with several clubs that he is a Premier League quality goalkeeper who can do a job for any team.
Had Palace not signed Henderson, Johnstone would still be a regular starter for the London club.
Now, with Leicester short of quality depth in the keeper department, a move for Johnstone makes a lot of sense.
Hermansen was excellent for the Foxes in 2023/24 but has zero experience in the top flight and how he will handle the step-up remains to be seen.
Should Cooper and co. move for the Palace star, however, they will know exactly what they are getting, which is a clear upgrade on Ward and a potential new Premier League-proven number one if Hermansen underperforms.