Leicester City could be on the lookout for a winger to replace Kasey McAteer in the not-so-distant future.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Leicester winger Kasey McAteer is on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur, though he claims the club shouldn’t expect a bid anytime soon.
Speaking to the Spurs Chat Podcast, he said: “The other player Tottenham are looking at, a different type of player to the ones we have mentioned is Kasey McAteer at Leicester, they really like him.
“He started well for Leicester, but then he got an injury, with Leicester flying they’re likely to get promotion to the Premier League. I’m not sure anything is possible there in 2024 just because he’s in the right place for his development.”
The Leicester academy graduate started the season like a house on fire before suffering an injury.
He scored four goals in his opening five Championship matches and while the 22-year-old has since been knocked out of his stride, he’s shown enough to pique the interests of Spurs.
If they do lose him, here are three replacements that Enzo Maresca should consider…
Million Manhoef
Leicester were linked with a move for Vitesse Arnhem winger Million Manhoef earlier on in the window.
The Dutchman has caught the eye of various top clubs after bursting onto the scene over the past few seasons.
He’s plundered four goals in 16 Eredivisie appearances this term and has been hailed as a “dream to watch” by journalist Antonio Mango due to his electrifying pace and fast changes in direction.
With that said, Maresca should consider going for Manhoef if they lose McAteer, especially for a reported bargain price of £3 million.
Ibrahim Salah
The Foxes have encountered previous fortune in France after landing the likes of N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez in the past.
There is every reason to believe that Stade Rennais winger Ibrahim Salah could be the next successful Ligue 1 export.
It has been claimed that Leicester have already “come forward” to sign the 22-year-old, who made a blistering start to the season with two goals on the opening day, but has since played just 13 minutes of senior football.
According to FBref, however, he ranks in the top 1% across Europe’s top five leagues in the past year for non-penalty goals and the top 11% for successful take-ons.
The Morocco under-23 star would be a smart addition to make to replace McAteer.
Samuel Iling-Junior
Although this would be a long shot, Samuel Iling-Junior is one player Leicester should target.
The Chelsea academy graduate, who is currently plying his trade at Juventus, has attracted interest from Tottenham, Brighton and Aston Villa in this window.
This came after the 20-year-old looked destined to leave to help the financial situation in Turin, but he’s started to shine in recent months and Juve are now preparing to offer him a new contract.
If they were to reverse that decision and McAteer was to leave the King Power, Iling-Junior is someone Maresca should be looking at.
He’s physically strong, quick and has a good range of creativity and ability to score while offering versatility across numerous positions.