Leicester City centre-back Wout Faes is on the radar as a potential winter target for Lazio, according to reports from Italy. Leicester City have come through a challenging summer transfer window and are now focused on getting the job done on the pitch.
LCFC have begun strongly under Marti Cifuentes, and as their late recruits settle and the squad bonds under their new manager, it will be hoped they only become stronger as the season advances.
The departures of Bilal El Khannouss, Kasey McAteer and Mads Hermansen went a long way to easing the PSR strain on the Foxes in the summer market, but it isn’t out of the question that key assets move on in January. And, one player already drawing attention is Wout Faes.
As relayed by Lazio News, Italian newspaper Corriere Dello Sport have reported that Lazio maintain their interest in Faes after they failed to sign Jan-Carlo Simic. He has instead joined Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
Faes had been linked with the Serie A giants earlier in the summer, but with their top target slipping away, the Belgian seems set to be back on their radar when the winter market comes around.
Faes, 27, is currently under contract with LCFC until 2027.
Wout Faes’ situation at Leicester City:
Faes may have been among those expected to exit the King Power Stadium in the summer window, but the deadline passed and he remains. It seems there’s no interest from clubs in countries where the window is still open, such as Turkey.
It means the 28-cap Belgian international will have to compete for his place in the starting XI under Cifuentes, having only been used as a substitute in the opening four matches of the Championship season.
Perhaps now that there is a little more clarity over his status following the transfer window’s closure, Cifuentes will be more inclined to hand the centre-back starting XI chances. However, he will need to demonstrate he’s up to the challenge with the defence performing well in clean-sheet victories over Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City.
The competition for a starting berth under Marti Cifuentes:
Leicester City boss Cifuentes has several strong centre-backs at his disposal, but his preferred starting duo has remained unchanged so far.
The imposing Jannik Vestergaard and 2024 recruit Caleb Okoli have lined up alongside each other for all league fixtures to date. There is little indication of that changing against Oxford United if they continue to impress, despite the fight for spots.
Belgian international Faes will be determined to reclaim his position, while the highly regarded Ben Nelson will be keen to break into the team after watching on as an unused substitute so far.
Harry Souttar, who is still working his way back from an achilles injury sustained with Sheffield United last season, will be eager to make an impact once fully fit as well.