With his contract expiring in June, Leicester City could face the prospect of needing to replace legend Jamie Vardy.
Jamie Vardy has been through it all over his past 12 years at the club, from the highs of winning the Premier League and FA Cup to the lows of relegation, the 37-year-old is Mr Leicester City and no one can take that away from him.
Unfortunately, what can be taken away from him is time and in football terms, he’s reaching the end of it.
Although he’s Leicester’s top scorer this season with 12 in all competitions, Enzo Maresca is still faced with the difficult task of replacing the greatest striker of City’s generation.
Whether he departs upon the expiry of his contract in the summer or leaves later down the line, a replacement will be needed and here are three that the Italian should consider…
Liam Delap (Manchester City)
Liam Delap is a product of Manchester City’s academy and is currently enjoying a productive loan spell at Hull City.
The 21-year-old has scored seven goals in 26 Championship matches, including one against Leicester in September, and would be a fantastic signing on loan.
Delap has every attribute in his locker to become a top striker and Maresca will know that having briefly worked with him at Man City.
The England U21 star is near unstoppable on the half-turn, incredible at holding off defenders and possesses frightening pace in behind.
If he can just refine his finishing, Delap will be ready to make that Premier League step up and that could be with Leicester.
Thijs Dallinga (Toulouse)
While Delap is a temporary solution, unless Man City were willing to sanction a permanent deal, Thijs Dallinga is the long-term heir to Vardy’s throne.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a whole host of Premier League clubs in the past, including Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, but Leicester should throw their name into the mix.
Once the promotion money rolls in, providing they achieve it, Maresca may want to splash a chunk of that cash on a striker to replace the Englishman and Dallinga could be their man.
Similarly to Vardy, Dallinga is a typical number nine who knows where the back of the net is and can lead the press from the first line brilliantly.
The Dutchman, who was lauded by journalist Josh Bunting as a “special talent”, has lit up the Europa League this term with four goals in seven matches, including one against Liverpool.
Leicester should make a statement this summer by trying to sign Dallinga.
Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim)
Much like Dallinga, Hoffenheim’s Maximilian Beier has a release clause of £25 million, but the statistics suggest it could be worth shelling out that much to replace Vardy.
Beier has been linked with Liverpool previously and while that would be a mouth-watering challenge for him, the 21-year-old would be guaranteed game time at the King Power, unlike at Anfield.
The versatile German forward, who can also play out wide, started the Bundesliga season on fire with six goals and four assists in his first nine appearances.
He now has eight goals and five assists in all competitions. Beier’s attributes align towards become the heir of Vardy having shown his electric pace and quick feet to fashion opportunities for himself.
Once promotion is achieved, Maresca should be looking at the German sharpshooter to lead their line.