LEICESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 22: Wilfred Ndidi of Leicester City during the Leicester City training session and press conference at Leicester City Training Ground, Seagrave on April 22, 2024 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
When Kasey McAteer signed a new Leicester City contract back in August, it took the number of senior players in the final 12 months of their deals down to just three.
It’s fewer than City have had in recent years. In 2023, City saw Youri Tielemans, Jonny Evans, Caglar Soyuncu, Daniel Amartey, Ayoze Perez, Papy Mendy, and Ryan Bertrand all leave on free transfers. In the summer just gone, City had five players on expiring contracts, with Kelechi Iheanacho, Dennis Praet and Marc Albrighton leaving, and with Jamie Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi staying.
The decision-makers at the top of the club do not have as much work to do this time, but there’s still a handful of calls needed. Here’s a rundown of the players who are out of contract next summer, and what might happen.
It was not until a month after the Championship season had finished, and just three weeks before his contract was due to run out, that Vardy signed a new one-year deal with the club this summer. It could be a similar situation next year too.
Vardy turns 38 in January and City are now only going to be in the realms of one-year extensions for their talisman, with the decision likely to be based on his success on the pitch. After 20 goals last term, and a sure sign that he still knew where the net was, Vardy deserved his new deal. How many goals does he have to score this season to be worthy of a new contract?
Because while he is getting on, at least in football terms, he looks after himself very well and, while the injuries are more frequent than they once were, he still over ever really suffers from knocks, rather than anything serious. So the goal tally feels like it will be the decisive factor.
He’s got two for the campaign so far. Considering he only scored three times in City’s relegation season, he’s on the right track. Certainly, if he gets to double figures, and so reaching a double century for the club, there will be fans craving one more year.
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