Leicester City are almost certainly going to have to prepare for life back in the Championship.
The Foxes’ defeat against Chelsea was their 12th in 13 Premier League games to leave Leicester six points off of safety.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 17 |  WolvesWolves | 28 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 38 | 57 | -19 | 23 |
| 18 |  IpswichIpswich | 28 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 26 | 58 | -32 | 17 |
| 19 |  LeicesterLeicester | 28 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 25 | 62 | -37 | 17 |
| 20 |  SouthamptonSouthampton | 28 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 20 | 68 | -48 | 9 |
Following the narrow loss, Ruud van Nistelrooy is one of the worst Premier League managers after 15 games however, due to financial issues, it’s unlikely that Leicester will sack Van Nistelrooy.
Regardless of what league the Foxes are in, Leicester will need a huge overhaul in terms of the playing squad.
Several Leicester players are expected to leave and must be replaced adequately to give the club the best chance of challenging.
One place the club can look is at players already thriving in the EFL who are capable of making the step up to the top flight, but also ones that would be ready-made for the Championship.
So, with that, here’s three EFL stars tearing up their respective leagues that should be on the Foxes’ radar this summer.
- READ MORE: Seven Premier League players out of contract Leicester City could sign on a free this summer
Louie Barry – Aston Villa (on loan at Hull City)
| Apps (all comps) | Goals | Assists |
| 28 | 16 | 3 |
Louie Barry is a player who has really made a name for himself this season.
Barry started the year on loan at League One side Stockport County and scored 16 goals in all competitions before being recalled and sent on loan to Hull City.
Sadly for the 21-year-old, his time was cut short with a season-ending injury but his potential is there for all to see.
The forward has been in the limelight ever since he made a move to Barcelona after being touted to become one of English football’s biggest talents and given Aston Villa’s European aspirations, he may find first team football hard to come by.
Leicester need a Jamie Vardy replacement and with Patson Daka not cutting it, Barry is someone who would thrive in this forward line, blessed with pace and has an eye for goal.
Additionally, the chance to work under a legendary striker in Van Nistelrooy is one that would only make him even better.
Rav van den Berg – Middlesbrough
| Apps (all comps) | Goals | Assists |
| 20 | 0 | 0 |
Rav van den Berg is a player who could very much be in demand this summer.
Van den Berg was reportedly looked at by Manchester City in January but he remained at the Riverside Stadium, where he has established himself as a fan favourite.
The 20-year-old won the Player of the Year award in his first season on Teesside and when not injured, has been a regular feature.
He is capable of operating as a left-back and right-back as well as his primary position of centre-back, which is one of the four positions Van Nistelrooy wanted to improve in the winter transfer window.
Plenty of Premier League clubs are likely to be keeping tabs on him but a move to the King Power Stadium would be a good step up, and even a better shout of playing top flight football in the long run.
Kwame Poku – Peterborough United
| Apps (all comps) | Goals | Assists |
| 21 | 10 | 8 |
Injury has thwarted Kwame Poku, but his numbers this season for a struggling Peterborough United team have been incredible.
In League One alone, Poku has 15 goal contributions in 18 games and represents the perfect model Peterborough have of buying younger players in the lower leagues and developing them.
Poku is a forward-thinking winger who will add goals to Leicester’s game. Considering the Foxes haven’t scored in over 500 minutes of football at the time of writing.
The 23-year-old is also a fellow Ghanian international so will be known to Abdul Fatawu and Jordan Ayew, who could help convince him to make the move to the East Midlands.
Geographically, it isn’t a huge move either but Leicester may have to move quick to win his signature as he will be wanted by plenty of others.