Leicester

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester's return to the top flight does not come without trepidation.

Whether they are 'Premier League ready' as boss Steve Cooper has wanted remains to be seen after an unconvincing pre-season.

With a possible points deduction looming for an alleged profit and sustainability breach, they could face an even tougher challenge, depending on any punishment from the independent panel.

Not that it is negative at King Power Stadium and Oliver Skipp, who cannot play against his former club with the deal not done in time, is an excellent signing at £20m.

He is not a like-for-like replacement for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, but with him and Harry Winks the Foxes' midfield is now looking solid, especially including Wilfried Ndidi.

However, with Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka injured, they are likely to be without a recognised, traditional, centre-forward with Stephy Mavididi an option to start up front against Tottenham.

The contrast is obvious with Spurs ready to utilise new £65m striker Dominic Solanke on Monday.

Follow build-up and live text commentary

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Midfielder Oliver Skipp says he is "looking to push on" after completing his move to Leicester City.

The 23-year-old has signed from Tottenham on a five-year-deal for a fee in excess of £20m.

Skipp came through Spurs' academy and made 77 Premier League appearances for the club, including 21 last season.

He will not be able to face his former side when the Foxes begin their Premier League return later on Monday, but will be available to make his debut on Saturday when they travel to Fulham.

"I feel I'm a player who will always give 100% and have attributes that will help the team. Some of my strengths are that I read the game well, I'm intelligent and can read the game of football," Skipp told club media., external

"Also, I'll hopefully be able to bring the best out of my team-mates. I'm looking forward to showing everyone what I can do for this club.

"I had conversations with the people here, and they gave me a feeling of warmth and comfort. They were excited to have me on board and, as a player, when there's excitement from the players and the staff, that's something you can use to develop your game.

"Steve [Cooper] worked with me at England, so we both know each other. There's definitely that relationship there, but for sure, I'm looking to push on."

A new season, and a new challenge for BBC Sport's prediction expert Chris Sutton.

Sutton faced off against a guest for each of the 38 game weeks in 2023-24 and triumphed 21-10 (with seven draws) to secure his second predictions title in a row.

In the first week of the new season, his opponent is The Courteeners frontman Liam Fray.

The pair have both given their prediction for Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.

Sutton's prediction: 1-3

I'm hearing a lot of nonsense about Tottenham and how their manager Ange Postecoglou "needs a good start" to the new campaign. I don't understand why he is under pressure at the start of his second season.

The Spurs fans were bored and fed up every weekend under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, but they were entertained last season and almost made the top four too - all without Harry Kane.

Nobody can argue that Ange didn't make progress, so why is he being questioned? It feels like people are waiting for him to fail and I think that's deeply unfair.

I don't think it will bother Postecoglou, though. He will just plough through it. He has managed for a long time and has had huge success.

I'm expecting Spurs to have another good season under him, especially now they have signed Dominic Solanke, which looks like an astute bit of business.

Leicester will be well-organised under Steve Cooper, and they probably stand the best chance of staying up out of the three promoted clubs, but I think Spurs will be too strong for them.

Liam's prediction: 0-2

I like Ange a lot and I love watching James Maddison too. Maybe Solanke could bring the best out of Son Heung-min again. I see Spurs being a big threat to Manchester United for getting that fourth spot.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

On the latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast, former Leicester striker Matty Fryatt spoke about his expectations for the Foxes this season.

He said: "I'll be really positive and say 17th! Anything else would be a massive achievement.

"Any of the three teams that have gone up, I think it's a big ask [to stay up] but I think Leicester would take 17th right now.

"It's going to be difficult. In terms of management and player-wise, you can't go in with the mindset that survival is enough, you've got to embrace the challenge. There are going to be some difficult games of course, but you've got to go and make it competitive in each game.

"I think it will be crucial to get off to a good start and get that togetherness in the team. At times we might have to give up style and be resolute and I think Steve Cooper is adaptable.

"The players [with Premier League experience] - Coady, Vardy, Winks, Justin, Pereira - will be crucial."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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The latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast is available now on BBC Sounds - and it is all about the Foxes' season opener against Tottenham Hotspur.

Leicester City manager Steve Cooper reveals some key injury updates and transfer news, while Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou discusses his ambitions for this season and facing former Spurs midfielder Harry Winks, and The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke gives the full low-down on the London club.

Listen to the opening day preview here

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Leicester City boss Steve Cooper has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Patson Daka and Jamie Vardy are both unavailable because of injuries. Daka will be "out for a few months" after an ankle operation. Vardy is closer to returning but he will still be missing "for a little while".

• Tom Cannon will be the only available senior striker going into the season opener, but Cooper says there is "no hiding" from the "situation" at the top end of the pitch, as the club continues their search for a number nine.

• Cooper is expecting Tottenham to play in a "defined way" because "they have got some brilliant players and a really good manager", but he added: "That is going to be the case every single week in the Premier League."

• On whether the Foxes are ready to take on the Premier League again, he said: "That's the intention, for sure. This is a very hard-working and together group of players. We want to keep a lot of that going, whilst balancing the challenge of the Premier League and what might need to change or adapt. Everything has been gearing to being ready, but time will tell."

• Cooper is not worried about the Foxes already being touted for relegation and is relishing the chance to prove people wrong again: "I've had it before - that's for sure - so it's not a new thing for me. It wasn't the case last time. Let's hope that's the same this season."

• In response to how the club has handled the transfer window so far, Cooper said: "Every season you want to strengthen and change. Every club will be the same, we are no different. We are still going through that process. The club is working together and the communication lines are great. It has been a slow market, and we have maybe felt that as well, but it's not been through a lack of trying. Let's see what next week brings now, because nothing is going to happen before Monday."

• The squad has agreed and set some "internal" goals for this season which included the players "opening up about what they want to achieve and having some debate around it". Cooper said: "It is important to me that the players have a voice in these things."

• He sent a message to Foxes fans ahead of the opening game: "I feel a good optimism. I have tried to engage as much as I can and all I've really felt is positivity. There is everything to be positive of and nothing to fear, whilst respecting the difficulty because it’s the best league in the world. We are going to give it everything."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Our football news reporter Nick Mashiter says "survival is the aim" for Leicester City and "anything more is a bonus", so we asked you to have your say.

Here are some of your comments:

Ash: Of course Premier League survival is the goal for this season. Finishing 17th would be an achievement given the horrendous circumstances my club have spiralled into over the past two or three seasons. Get through this season, then begin a rebuild.

Dan: I'd be amazed if we stay up, especially if we have a points deduction applied. Our squad is lacking depth, especially up front. But we've been written off so many times before and we do impossible things like winning the league! I think most sensible Leicester fans would bite your hand off for 17th place and build on that.

Andy: Survival would give us a great base to build from, but I think the financial regulations will ultimately completely ruin our season. Can't spend on new players and a large points deduction potentially too.

Ben: Looking at our squad and manager, I only see one thing... relegation. Any Leicester fan thinking mid-table is the aim or anyone predicting us mid-table, you clearly still think we’re the team that won the league and you don’t know how difficult the Premier League is to survive in.