How Leicester City could line up with Harry Winks, Conor Coady and more transfers

The latest Leicester City news as we take a look at three possible line-ups Enzo Maresca could choose from should the club complete four signings this summer

Enzo Maresca will get his first look at some of his Leicester City squad on the training pitch on Monday. The new manager will take his first training session at Seagrave at the start of next week with players not involved in international action returning to work.

The City boss will also be hoping to see some new faces at the club by the time that training session comes around. City are closing in on deals for both midfielder Harry Winks and defender Conor Coady.

Winks is on the verge of joining from Tottenham for a fee of up to £ 10 million, while City are also close to sealing a deal for Coady from Wolves for £7.5m. The club is said to have beaten off competition for both players.

Two other players have also been linked with City over the last few days. Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen and Swansea City striker Joel Piroe are said to be targeted for Maresca as he looks to rebuild his squad following the sale of James Maddison.

So, if all four did become City players, how could they fit into the starting line-ups for the new season? Without knowing for sure what formation Maresca will opt for, here’s a look at three possible options.

The signing of Coady could indicate that City may play three at the back in the new campaign, a formation the defender thrived in during his time at Wolves. The formation would allow City to play two strikers up top, with Maresca having four options, assuming all three of Patson Daka, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Jamie Vardy stay.

If Steffen does arrive, then he is likely to become the club’s new number one ahead of Daniel Iversen and Danny Ward – although he is currently recovering from an operation he had in the summer with a timescale for his return unknown.

With Timothy Castagne looking likely to be sold, it leaves City with the choice of Ricardo Pereira, James Justin, Luke Thomas, and Victor Kristiansen as the wing-back choices. The former two may just get the call due to their attacking prowess.

Winks would then slot into a midfield three alongside Kiernan Dewsbury Hall. With Wilfred Ndidi one of those who may be sole, Hamza Choudhury could get the call ahead of Boubakary Soumare in order to add slightly more protection to the back three.

Possible City line-up (3-5-2): Steffen; Faes, Coady, Souttar; Ricardo, Justin; Choudhury, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Iheanacho, Piroe.

4-3-3

A way to get more attacking prowess on the pitch could be to play the 4-3-3 formation, which allows three of the four strikers to be selected in the line-up, although two may be asked to play in wide striking positions.

With Faes another who could be sold, and Souttar’s Championship experience he could play in a back four alongside Conor Coady. That could though bring a concern over the speed in the back line – although Souttar is deceptively quicker than it seems.

Kristiansen could replace Justin as left-full-back, while Soumare may add more creativity in midfield as opposed to Choudhury. Iheanacho and Piroe would likely start, giving Maresca the choice between Vardy and Daka for the third striker spot.

Possible City line-up (4-3-3): Steffen; Ricardo, Coady, Souttar, Kristiansen; Soumare, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Iheanacho, Daka, Piroe.

4-2-3-1

The 4-2-3-1 formation is the one that the City squad is most used to playing, with it being the most used by former manager Brendan Rodgers. The lack of wingers could be a problem for City should they not bring in any wide men.

Harvey Barnes has been heavily linked with a move away, so we’ll assume that he won’t be available. That leaves Marc Albrighton as the only natural first-team winger at the club.

The city could get past that by moving one of Ricardo Pereira or James Justin up into a more attacking role. Ricardo could get the call as he’s played in the position more often.

Winks and Dewsbury-Hall would make up the midfield two. Iheanacho is also able to drop in and play the number 10 role in the absence of Maddison. Maresca would then have the pick of Vardy, Daka, or Piroe as the leading striker.

Possible City line-up (4-2-3-1): Steffen, Justin, Coady, Souttar, Kristiansen; Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Ricardo, Iheanacho, Albrighton; Piroe.