Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby in action. (Getty Images)
As per a report by Spanish publication AS via Sport Witness (h/t Chronicle Live), Leicester City have enquired about the availability of Valencia centre-back, Mouctar Diakhaby, for a potential transfer in the summer. Newcastle United are another Premier League club interested in the defender.
The report mentions that Diakhaby’s contract expires in the summer of 2023 and he has been informed about Valencia’s intention of cashing in on him this summer. The defender himself wants to use this summer to ‘turn his career around’. In light of this, we look at why the Foxes should pounce at this opportunity.
Brendan Rodgers was not gifted with the widest range of central defenders to choose from last season. The Northern Irish manager played a formation with three centre-backs numerous times but was put in a tough situation on a few occasions because of the injuries to Wesley Fofana and Caglar Soyuncu.
So he often played defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and left-back Christian Fuchs as the third centre-back. That is already not a good sign considering it shows that the squad is being stretched to its limits. To make matters worse, Wes Morgan has announced his retirement from professional football.
While the 37-year-old Jamaican was already in the twilight of his career, it is problems elsewhere that ring alarm bells for Rodgers. Apart from Leicester’s defenders suffering from fitness issues this season, Fuchs, who was utilized as a third centre-back, has left the King Power Stadium to join Charlotte FC, as per a report by The Athletic (Subscription Required).
While Caglar Soyuncu and Fofana are sturdy options at centre-back which Rodgers would love to have, the third senior defender in the team, Jonny Evans, is perhaps getting a bit too old. He turns 34 this year and cannot be expected to play forever in the Foxes’ defence.
Thus, the situation seems almost urgent at Leicester City. With the club losing a couple of defenders in the summer and Rodgers’ preference for playing a formation with three centre-backs, it is imperative that they prioritize signing a defender. If they don’t, they could be left to feel the consequences.
The Premier League season is a long one considering the competitions that run alongside it. With two domestic cups and European games to tackle, Leicester’s squad can be stretched to the limits. And for that, they really need to be prepared if they aim to become one of England’s top dogs.
This is not even about increasing depth but signing someone who can be a regular starter. Mouctar Diakhaby can be just that. The Frenchman has a combined 149 appearances for Valencia as well as Olympique Lyonnaise at the age of just 24.
In him, Leicester could get an experienced centre-back who is in the prime years of his career and solve a glaring problem in their backline, considering how devoid of centre-backs they currently are.
