Leicester's attempt to sign 24-year-old winger Reiss Nelson from Arsenal has stalled, as he is out of the Foxes' price bracket. (Leicester Mercury), external
Crystal Palace are open to letting 32-year-old forward Jordan Ayew leave this summer, with Leicester keen to sign the Ghana international. (Standard), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Image source, PA MediaTactics analyst Dominic Wells believes he has seen "some philosophies that have remained from Enzo Maresca's time" during Leicester City's early pre-season friendlies under new boss Steve Cooper.
Maresca led the Foxes to the Championship title last season before leaving for Chelsea in June, with ex-Nottingham Forest manager Cooper replacing him.
Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast, Wells said: "The biggest takeaway for me is how Cooper is trying to play in a similar ilk to Maresca.
"The way he reaches that end output is definitely different and there's fluidity there, but what I find really interesting is that Cooper is trying to take on board the positives of last season.
"He's not trying to come in and say 'we're going to play my style of football', he's trying to adapt to what's been done in the previous year, which has been a good year of squad building and we've got the right profile to play how Maresca wanted to. He's trying to build on that, instead of saying 'we're going to counter-attacking, defensive football now'."
Ex-Foxes winger Matt Piper added: "It's the clever thing to do. If you come in and something's not broken, don't try to fix it.
"Because of the level these players got to last season and how well they took the systems of Enzo and made them work on the pitch, you don't want to change too much.
"He's got to implement his own style and I'm sure he's doing that. The outcome of where he's trying to get to is very similar, but it's quite different in the build-up and the way he's trying to do it."
Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty ImagesPlayers like Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund are already suffering from hamstring injuries two weeks before the season even starts - and they say the modern preparation regimes are better, safer and more scientific!
They probably are better. At least the players do not have to go through some of the borderline sadistic routines that previous generations did. Back then, after a decent length of summer break, pre-season meant working incredibly hard over a short period of time to get yourself back in top condition fast.
Sprinting up and down gigantic sand dunes against the clock until many players were physically sick was de rigueur, alongside other road runs and track work.
Here is the weird part: I used to look forward to that, the way a class swot looks forward to exams. Being smaller, lighter and a committed long-distance runner all my young life, even before I became a pro footballer, it was, if not exactly a piece of cake, then certainly much easier for me than most of the rest of the team.
I have asked many modern managers what they would prefer to do in a perfect world during their pre-season. The most common answer is "just about anything other than what we are forced to do now!"
A new episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast assesses Leicester City's pre-season performances so far and looks at how the Foxes may line up tactically in the Premier League under new boss Steve Cooper.
There is also an interview with Foxes full-back James Justin.
Image source, Getty ImagesPat Nevin, former Chelsea, Everton and Scotland winger writing in his Football Extra newsletter:
The pre-season friendlies are in full swing and let's be straight about this, the players generally hate these games, whatever they say.
They clearly haven't had enough rest in the summer, it is a grind getting your body back into peak shape, especially if the accumulated injuries from last season haven’t been allowed to fully recover.
The games themselves are weird affairs, where you would like to win but that is nowhere near the most important thing. Fitness, integrating new players, possibly a new manager and sometimes a new system are each more important. You also know full well that it is a hotch-potch of a team selection to give players minutes. The fans, mass media and social media will read far too much into every game and every performance.
From within the team itself, there are different motivations. A young or new player being given his first chance will be racing about like an overexcited spaniel. Other experienced players will be easing themselves back into it, the primary concern in their minds is to be fit and healthy come the first weekend of the Premier League season.
Deep down they don't worry if they get thumped by Celtic or DC United on their US tours, nobody at Chelsea or Aston Villa will remember or care about these results in two weeks' time.
Unless of course you are a DC or indeed Celtic fan. The Celts just beat Chelsea and Man City. Now that is impressive pre-season form or is that just Scottish bias.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Leicester striker Matty Fryatt believes left-back Victor Kristiansen has the potential to be a big part of new manager Steve Cooper's plans for the club's' return to the Premier League.
Kristiansen signed for Leicester from FC Copenhagen for £17m in January 2023, making him the most expensive Danish Superliga player ever, but was loaned out to Serie A side Bologna for the 2023-24 season after the Foxes' relegation to the Championship.
The 21-year-old has returned to King Power Stadium and featured in Friday's 1-0 pre-season defeat to Palermo.
Asked if if Kristiansen would suit Cooper's system of having one full-back playing very high, Fryatt told BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast: "Absolutely. It would be made for him in terms of he is full of energy and he is 100 miles per hour all the time. Sometimes you need to find that balance but he's constant.
"He provides energy and he would be up and down. It would just be the other side of it, when he switches off [and makes] little mistakes.
"His effort and enthusiasm is there. He provides legs to get forward and that cross he put in [against Palermo] was outstanding.
"He's like a bottle of pop, he's 100 miles an hour and sometimes just needs to slow himself down at the right times. But, it's a fine line between being all at it and being a bit cool and composed.
"It's about finding that balance but he certainly provides legs going forward."
David Lockwood
BBC Sport Editorial Sustainability Lead
Image source, Getty ImagesLos Angeles or Chesterfield? San Diego or Salford?
The pre-season destinations of 20 Premier League clubs may be varied, but the issue remains the same - the impact of so many flights.
Half (10) of the clubs have flown to the United States for friendlies; three have travelled to the Far East and the rest are in Europe and the UK.
Manchester United's pre-season schedule see them flying almost 13,000 miles playing fixtures in Norway, Scotland, and across the US. Chelsea and Tottenham are also expected to fly in excess of 12,000 miles.
In contrast, Everton will fly the least, with just one fixture outside the UK in the Republic of Ireland.
Spurs and Newcastle also played an exhibition fixture in May - three days after the season finished - for which they both flew to Melbourne, Australia, a game Alan Shearer described as “madness”. Add in those air miles and both teams will have travelled in excess of 30,000 air miles in the close-season, equivalent to more than once around the globe, to play in non-competitive matches.
Newcastle and Spurs both have a target to be Net Zero by 2030, while Manchester United and Chelsea are in process of establishing an emissions reduction plan.
Net Zero requires the reduction and removal of all 'non-essential emissions' - so are these games essential?
Wycombe's David Wheeler is a leading sustainability campaigner in football and told BBC Sport: "These games are only necessary in the sense that the clubs want to make more money and grow their fan base".
He added: "The vast majority of players don't want to be away from their families, they don't want to be travelling around the world after a full slog of a season. They're overworked and injuries have gone through the roof, so there is a synergy between player welfare and planetary welfare."
An estimated travelling group of 30 flying 12,864 air miles business class generates around 200 tonnes of CO2 - the equivalent of 500,000 miles driven by an average petrol car, or the entire annual emissions for a year of 16 people in the UK.
Tottenham said it is "committed to minimising its environmental impact" in all its operations, "which will take time and effort". The club says it "ensures" all teams travel "as sustainably as possible throughout the season". It "measures, manages and reports on travel emissions" and will offsets "where possible."
Read more about the Premier League's pre-season air miles here
Including the May trip to Australia for Newcastle and Tottenham more than doubles those two clubs' total flights in the close-season and puts them way above the rest of the Premier League for environmental impact
We asked for your views on Leicester's defeat to Palermo.
Here are some of your comments:
Jack: It was good to see some of the ideas taking shape. The result was disappointing but I think at this point we can forgive one mistake at the back, and overall we deserved more from the game. We still don’t look ruthless enough upfront in my opinion, so another striker wouldn’t hurt if we can afford it.
John: We need a playmaker in midfield. I’d like to see Billy Gilmour brought in. At less than £10m he’d be a good value acquisition.
Lewis: I was there at the game and we played good football at times but were also sluggish. We are nowhere near match fit but will be ready when league starts.
Peter: It again proves we need a striker to compete. Vardy will not be able to play week in week out, so we need a capable goalscorer. Also, I'm glad that I didn't pay to watch the game and listened to it on BBC radio instead. To get fans on board we need to improve quickly, try some of the younger players for longer and stop charging for pre-season.
Dan: Hard to gauge anything from pre-season in reality, but we looked pretty toothless up front. I want Patson Daka to come good but I just can't see it happening. Vardy can't be expected to carry us on his own, plus he's not getting any younger. We definitely need a striker to give us any hope of staying up, especially with points deduction.
Image source, Getty ImagesSteve Cooper says Leicester City need to strengthen their attacking midfield options.
The Foxes lost 1-0 to Palermo in a friendly in Chesterfield on Friday.
In the aftermath, Cooper said: “We need to add players and that’s what we’re trying to do.
"Something needs to happen. We need players in as quickly as possible. We’re trusting each other to get the right ones in, and hopefully sooner rather than later.
“I think any part of the pitch where we can really make a difference in our game, we’re open to signings. I think there are some areas that are more prevalent in that fact.
“That’s what we’re trying to do. But if we can’t do things we want, I’m not going to moan about it. We’ll get on with it.
“But at the same time it would be nice to improve because the step up to the Premier League is a huge one and we’ve got to step up as a team. It’s exciting that we’re trying to bring in players we want and if we can get them over the line, it will help in our process of being a competing Premier League team again."
Cooper says he will wait to assess his striker options when Jamie Vardy returns from injury but it is in the attacking-midfield area that he sees a more urgent need to strengthen.
"I think that’s where I don’t mind saying we do need to add," said Cooper.
"We’re playing players there that wouldn’t naturally play there all the time. That’s certainly an area we’re looking to add into."
What did you make of the 1-0 friendly defeat at the hands of Palermo, Foxes fans? Did you spot anything Steve Cooper needs to work on before the season starts?
Image source, Getty ImagesOn the latest episode of the When You're Smiling Podcast, Former Leicester academy product Ian Baraclough spoke about Stephy Mavididi, who played in a more central role in Leicester's pre-season victory over Shrewsbury:
"The manager is thinking I know what he can do in wide areas, I know what he gives us. Can he play just behind the striker? Or even play one up and be the striker who drops in? He needs to see if he can do that and throw him in a Premier League game.
"I think he's got the skillset for it. He can receive on the half turn, he's aware of the space around him and once he's allowed to drive with the ball he could be a dangerous player. Steve Cooper will have wanted to see those bits and I think he would have been quite happy with what he saw.
"With interchangeable nature of those players, he's got to know that somebody else can take that area. If any of the strikers drop deep to link, he's got to know that he's got players who will take the space left by the striker.
"It sounds like something that should happen normally but it takes a little while for players to get used to it and know when to take the space. All of these things you have to talk about and go through during the week but you want to see it during the 90 minutes. There's no better time than pre-season to experiment."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
On the latest episode of the When You're Smiling podcast, Football Italia writer Giancarlo Rinaldi spoke about Palmero FC, who the Foxes face in their next pre-season match on Friday:
"They have changed manager, so that [their style of play] may alter. But last season they were always a good watch. They had one of the best attacks and one of the worst defences in Serie B so you've got your money's worth to watch them!
"Their new manager, Alessio Dionisi, was with Sassuolo last season who got relegated. But they were one of the most entertaining teams to watch. He likes to play a fairly aggressive 4-3-3. That might not translate to his new side but he's an entertaining manager and an ambitious guy.
"Palermo is a big team to be stuck in Serie B and they play some entertaining football."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport Football News Reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesNewcastle's first team development coach Ben Dawson has left the Magpies to join Leicester.
He will become part of Steve Cooper's first-team coaching staff at the Foxes as the manager, who moved to the King Power Stadium last month, builds his coaching team.
Dawson had worked at Newcastle for a decade having joined the academy as a professional development coach in 2014.
He has also been Under-21s lead coach and academy head of coaching before becoming first team development coach in 2021 to help young players into the senior squad.
Steve Harper, Newcastle's academy director, said: "Ben has been an important part of the Academy here for over a decade and has played a key role in the development of many players.
"I'm delighted that Ben has the opportunity to work in the first team at Leicester City. This development is testament to his work ethic and to the excellent coach development work at our Academy, supported by Ben, Neil Winskill and, more recently, Jack Ross.
"We all thank Ben for his excellent contribution to academy life at Newcastle United and wish him the best of luck with his coaching journey."
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter
Image source, Arsenal via Getty ImagesLeicester boss Steve Cooper is keen on a reunion with Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson.
Cooper worked with Nelson while England Under-16 and Under-17 coach and Leicester have registered their interest,
Nelson made 24 appearances, scoring once, for the Gunners last season but made just five starts - one of them in the Premier League.
He is part of Arsenal's travelling squad in the United States with the Gunners facing Bournemouth in California early on Thursday.
Nelson has spent time on loan at Hoffenheim and Feyenoord and has made 89 appearances for Arsenal, scoring eight goals, having come through the academy.
Cooper has made no secret of his desire to bring new players in, with Leicester having sold Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea for £30m.
They have signed Bobby Decordova-Reid on a free transfer, Michael Golding from Chelsea, defender Caleb Okoli from Atalanta and made Abdul Fatawu's loan from Sporting Lisbon permanent.
"We definitely have to bring players in - everybody knows that," said Cooper after Tuesday's 2-1 friendly win at Shrewsbury.
"Sometimes it's not easy to do and I understand that as well. You've got to bring the right players in.
"But we've got to make sure when that first game comes we're in with a chance of being able to what we need to do in the Premier League."
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport Football News Reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesLeicester boss Steve Cooper spent around 20 minutes speaking to the media after Tuesday's 2-1 friendly win at Shrewsbury.
He covered the result - earned by Stephy Mavididi and Kasey McAteer's goals - transfers, injuries and how he has found the club and the culture.
Cooper promised to immerse himself into the club and he has kept his word. From day one of his appointment last month, having written an open letter to supporters, he has tried to get under the skin of the Foxes.
After the friendly win in Shropshire he mentioned a desire to speak to former players about the club to understand it further.
He briefly spoke to Matt Elliott and Gerry Taggart - key men during Martin O'Neill's successful time - at the Croud Meadow and has plans to meet others. It shows a manager in touch with a club and a fanbase which has struggled for unity over the last 18 months.
On the pitch he was happy enough, highlighting that if mistakes were made the squad has the time and ability to learn from them.
There was a quicker tempo than under Enzo Maresca - something which will please those who found the Italian's style tedious despite it bringing the Championship title.
It was an encouraging performance, especially given Cooper has been in the door a month and had even less time with the players, all while trying to shape a squad and bring in a fresh coaching team.
We asked for your views on Leicester City's second pre-season victory and Steve Cooper's first public game in charge of the Foxes.
Here are some of your thoughts:
Jamie: There were some positives for sure! Stephy Mavididi looked lively, as did Ben Nelson, Will Alves and Michael Golding. However, if Jakub Stolarczyk is out for six months, we cannot go into a Premier League season with Danny Ward as our second-choice goalkeeper.
John: Some of the play was excellent. It looked like we were playing in a 4-3-3, fast moving through the lines and playing a high line. My concern is on the breakdown and getting punished there though. It is clear we need another forward as reliance on Vardy and Daka, if he stays, is not going to be enough. Steve Cooper is clearly connecting with the players. A few more heads and we will have enough.
We also asked for your thoughts on the 2024-25 away kit which was worn by the players in the win over Shrewsbury Town.
We get the feeling you aren't big fans... here are some of your replies:
Craig: How ugly! It looks as if they got a children's nursery to do a painting and then just stuck a sponsor and a couple of badges on it.
Ash: The colours are nice and it looks sleek. I'm not a fan of the sponsor and I'm a little disappointed that the club has sided with a name that will soon be banned from appearing on shirts. Clubs should be more ethical by keeping gambling and crypto-currency out. There are plenty of other sponsors out there.
Chris: It looks like someone has just vomited after too many beers on The Kop!
Baz: I'm not a fan. The kit looks like it was designed to maximise the sponsorship logo and nothing else.
Leicester City winger Stephy Mavididi enjoyed playing in a different role during Tuesday's pre-season win at Shrewsbury, but conceded "the gaffer threw me in".
The 26-year-old was mainly deployed on the left by previous boss Enzo Marseca but played more centrally by new manager Steve Cooper in the first half at Croud Meadow before switching to an attacking left wing-back role in the second half.
He also scored what turned out to be the winning goal, albeit from a deflected free kick.
"It was nice to change position and see a different part of my game," he told BBC Radio Leicester afterwards. "Obviously, I'm open to learning new positions and things like that, so it was good and enjoyable. I'm happy with the performance and the win.
"I back myself, so wherever the gaffer wants to play me, I will just give 100% and always try to learn.
"I thought the team played well. We are gelling together nicely with the new ideas and new tactics."
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport Football News Reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesSteve Cooper knows the Foxes need new recruits to make them ready for the Premier League. They have already made four signings - including defender Caleb Okoli from Atalanta - but the manager wants more.
They are keen on Juventus' Matias Soule for their return to the top flight after one season in the Championship.
The goalkeeping situation has also changed at the King Power with No.2 Jakob Stolarczyk ruled out for up to six months after ankle surgery.
"We definitely have to bring players in - everybody knows that," said Cooper after Tuesday's 2-1 friendly win at Shrewsbury.
"Sometimes it's not easy to do and I understand that as well. You've got to bring the right players in.
"But we've got to make sure when that first game comes we're in with a chance of being able to what we need to do in the Premier League.
"It's not as clear as saying we need players in this and that position... there are certain profiles of players and attributes we need and I'm clear on that.
"I'm not going to say we need 'X' amount of players because if you get more it sounds like there's no plan. There's a clear plan and hopefully we can get a few signings over the line and like all managers say, the quicker, the better."
A deflected Stephy Mavididi free kick and Kasey McAteer's winner came either side of an Okoli own goal in Shropshire.
Leicester City saw off League One Shrewsbury Town in their first public match under new boss Steve Cooper.
Goals from Stephy Mavididi and Kasey McAteer were enough to make it two wins out of two pre-season games for the Foxes, as the 2016 Premier League winners prepare for their return to the top flight.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester, Steve Cooper agreed there were some "good bits" but expects more from his team: "We had some clear objectives for the game, in terms of how we wanted the team to play, some physical returns and players in some different positions.
"There were definitely some good bits and some bits where we will think we need to do a bit better than that.
"I think the mistakes we made in the game were from the guys trying to play with our new ideas, so I'm OK with that. It is OK to make mistakes when they are trying to do what we are implementing."
The Welsh manager also explained why Jamie Vardy and Jakub Stolarczyk were unavailable: "Vards had a knock in the game against Villarreal. Unfortunately he has missed this game, but fortunately he won't be out for too long.
"We are hoping he will be back with us for the Germany camp, if not a bit after that.
"It's really unfortunate news on Jakub. He had a really innocuous injury in training and it ended up being a really serious injury. He has had to have an operation on his ankle and he will be out for a long period of time."
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport Football News Reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesLeicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk has been ruled out for up to six months with a serious ankle injury.
The 23-year-old suffered the injury in training and has undergone surgery which will keep him sidelined until next year.
Stolarczyk made nine appearances for the Foxes in all competitions last season having previously had loan spells at Dunfermline, Fleetwood and Hartlepool.
"It’s really unfortunate - he had a very innocuous injury in training and it’s ended up being really serious," said boss Steve Cooper. "He’s had to have an operation on his ankle and he’s going to be out for a long time.
"It couldn’t be any more bad luck. He’s found himself in a tough situation. He did it on the day we flew to Evian. I feel for the boy. I’ve heard some really good things about him, and how talented he is.
"The club is very well set up in terms of how they support players. We’ll get him back as quickly as possible. I think it will be around six months."
It changes the goalkeeping situation at the King Power Stadium as Danny Ward and Daniel Iversen had been expected to leave this summer.
Ward played 90 minutes in Tuesday's 2-1 win at Shrewsbury and could now stay as back up to Mads Hermansen.
Derby are interested in Iversen but the clubs remain apart on their valuation of the 27-year-old.
Image source, Getty ImagesLeicester City's new away kit is now available after being unveiled on Tuesday.
The black shirt, with gold and pink splashes was worn in the club's pre-season victory against Shrewsbury Town.
The kit will be worn in the Foxes Premier League away games and the women's Super League fixtures.
Leicester opened their pre-season campaign with victory at League One Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night.
What did you learn from the game?
BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling offers a first chat with Steve Cooper as he gives his reaction to City's win at Shrewsbury on Tuesday.
Plus, analysis from ex-Foxes striker Matty Fryatt and analyst Dominic Wells.
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
