Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall Leicester City return pleas as double injury update emerges
Leicester City might not be in action on the pitch during the international break - but there’s been plenty happening off it so far, ahead of their return to Premier League duty with a big match against Chelsea next Saturday.
There have been pleas from Foxes supporters for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to return to the King Power Stadium from Chelsea in the wake of speculation over a potential exit from Stamford Bridge just months after leaving City. £15m signing Harry Souttar has also addressed his future as he impresses on loan at Sheffield United.
There has also been an injury blow confirmed ahead of Leicester facing Chelsea at the King Power Stadium. Here’s a round-up of the latest City news during the November international break:
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Agent rates £13m transfer
Caleb Okoli’s agent believes the Italian defender’s start to life at Leicester City proves he made “the right choice” in the summer.
The 23-year-old defender joined the Foxes from Atalanta for £13m on a five-year deal in July and has gone on to play seven times in the Premier League so far this season. He started both of their league wins so far, against Bournemouth and Southampton, but has found himself on the substitutes’ bench in their last two matches before the international break against Ipswich Town and Manchester United.
His form for the Foxes led to his first Italy call-up in September and his agent, Alessandro Barison, insists he’s satisfied the King Power Stadium is the right place for the youngster , having turned down other offers.
"His summer was quite eventful, because the boy had markets in Italy, France, Germany , Spain and England,” he said . “His dream was to go to the Premier League, this call from Leicester arrived through an intermediary and he didn't think twice.
"In five days the deal was closed and the clubs immediately reached an agreement.
“The boy wanted to have a different experience from Atalanta, he wanted to play more because he’s a young boy and he also wanted to aspire to the national team, which then thanks to his performances arrived,” he added. “Spalletti (Italy manager Luciano Spalletti) followed him to Leicester and decided to call him up. Up until now, moving to England has been the right choice.”
Souttar speaks out
Leicester City’s Harry Souttar has addressed his future as he impresses on loan at Sheffield United.
The 26-year-old defender has endured a tough time at the King Power Stadium since his £15m move from Stoke City in January 2023. He has only played 15 league matches for the club, failing to help them avoid relegation from the Premier League in his first few months with the Foxes and then only playing three times as they won the Championship title last season.
But a loan move to the Blades in the Championship looks to have revitalised his club career and he has been a key figure for them in the opening few months of this season, playing in 14 of their 15 league matches and helping them to second place in the table.
He is set to stay with United until the end of the season and has a contract with Leicester until 2028. And while his future is out of his hands, he admits he would consider staying at Bramall Lane in the long term if the opportunity arose.
“Absolutely,” he said . “Absolutely. I'm here until the summer, that's a guarantee.
“So whatever happens after that is out of my hands a little bit but in terms of my feelings towards the club, it's given me a lot and the gaffer's put a lot of trust in me. And I want to repay him for that.
“My focus has just been on Sheffield United. I'm aware that I'm a loan player and that's my parent club but my focus and communication has all been on this club. What we're doing on and off the pitch.”
'Serious' injury blow
Leicester City defender Ben Nelson has revealed he has had surgery on “a serious injury”.
The 20-year-old has been on loan at Championship club Oxford United this season, after agreeing to a season-long switch from the King Power Stadium in the summer. He had started eight times in the league for The U’s, but was forced off with an injury in their last match before the international break against Hull City.
The youngster has now given an update on Instagram, saying: "Gutted to have picked up a serious injury in my last game. Was really enjoying every minute of playing but unfortunately these things happen in football. I have had surgery and I'm now on the road to recovery."
While the nature of his injury is still to be confirmed, Nelson is now likely to face a significant spell on the sidelines as he recovers from the setback.
Dewsbury-Hall return pleas
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s move to Chelsea has not gone as he would have liked. The former Leicester City midfielder had made only three Premier League appearances since leaving the King Power – all three off the bench and none since August.
Indeed he has not made five of the last six league match-day squads, although there has been some respite in the Europa Conference League where he has made four starts and scored his first Blues goal against Gent.
Predictably that has led to speculation not only about whether Dewsbury-Hall will even be in the squad when Enzo Maresca returns to the King Power Stadium on Saturday wee k – but also whether he’ll even see out the season at Stamford Bridge.
It was reported earlier this week that Aston Villa are keen on taking him on a loan with a view to buy in the January transfer window, so we asked Foxes fans if they’d take the 26-year-old, home-grown midfielder back as a short-term measure to help ensure top flight status.
Chelsea star confirms fresh injury 'blow'
Romeo Lavia has revealed he suffered an injury "blow" during Chelsea's draw with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, but the midfielder is hopeful it is nothing too serious as Leicester City prepare to face the Blues after the international break.
Since joining Chelsea in the summer of 2023 from Southampton, the 20-year-old midfielder has had a torrid time with injuries. In total, Lavia has missed 47 matches in all competitions due to different injury problems, including four games at the start of this season.
Last term, his debut campaign in a Chelsea shirt, saw the Belgium international play just once. This season, though, he has already made seven appearances in all competitions and has recently climbed above Enzo Fernandez in the pecking order in the Premier League.
This latest setback came during Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday evening with Lavia being taken off on 68 minutes in place of Fernandez. "I received a little blow," Lavia said to RTL Info. "At the moment, we are testing to see if it is okay, but it should be fine, I think."