Leicester City

Chris Forryan, Leicester Till I Die, external

This is the season we could see Leicester overtake Manchester City with an eighth title win.

OK, so it's second-tier titles, but the two City clubs are tied on seven and unless the Premier League drops Manchester City down a division or two over their alleged indiscretions, I can’t see them winning any more in the near future.

Straws? Grasping? Well, yes, maybe.

At the start of the season I stated that if it meant we go up next season stronger and more prepared I would accept a seventh or eighth-place finish this season. That would now feel like a major disappointment.

That said, this is no League One, where we only lost four games the whole season we spent in the third tier. There are a lot of good teams and we made a lot of changes to our squad in the summer.

But we have made a good start and got back to winning ways on Saturday with a comfortable victory over Watford.

Going up is the priority. Winning it will be a bonus, but in all honesty it just feels great to be winning games again.

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Bottom hosts top in the Championship on Wednesday as Sheffield Wednesday face leaders Leicester - and Foxes manager Enzo Maresca is not taking anything for granted against the division's bottom club.

He said: "For them, it's the perfect day because [by] beating us they can solve some problems. If you can remember the QPR game and how difficult that was, this will be exactly the same.

"They have changed the dynamic completely with a new manager and the way they play. They are very aggressive and high-pressing, so it will be a tough game for sure."

He added: "Probably for us it's the worst game in this moment, because for them it could be the game of their rebuild. They can start something important. It will be a very difficult game and we need to be ready."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Leicester winger Matt Piper believes the Foxes still have room to improve after they returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Watford on Saturday.

Enzo Maresca's side responded to two straight defeats with a hard-fought win - secured by two late Jamie Vardy goals - that sees them remain top of the Championship after 17 matches.

"This was one of those typical games where if they didn't get the goals you're questioning the way they played and saying it wasn't quite good enough," Piper told the When You're Smiling: Leicester City podcast.

"As we've seen for the majority of the season, they put some really nice stuff together but it's not often enough. In the end they get the goals and three points and that is the most important thing but it isn't that free-flowing football that we want to see as fans.

"They have some really nice ideas in the way they build up but at times the speed of the ball moving when passing is just not good enough. We seem to pass it so slowly and when you come up against a well structured defensive unit like Watford then your options are limited because something is always in your face.

"When we saw them move it a little quicker it looked a lot better and I think the manager has to get that across to his team. You have to be brave when you play like that. But, we got over the line and that's the most important thing."

Listen to When You're Smiling on BBC Sounds

Manchester City want to sign Boca Juniors full-back Valentin Barco before loaning the 19-year-old Argentina Under-20 international to Leicester. (Sun), external

Leicester and Preston are keen on a January loan move for Liverpool's 20-year-old England Under-21 defender Jarell Quansah. (Alan Nixon via Leicestershire Live), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Harry Winks will miss Leicester's Championship game against Watford on Saturday through suspension, Foxes' boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed.

The 27-year-old midfielder picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Middlesbrough last time out so will be unavailable, along with a host of other players who are out injured.

"Nobody gives us the same as Harry Winks because they are different players," said Maresca. "Unfortunately, he is suspended, but it doesn't matter because we'll have another player who can play in that position."

He confirmed that Hamza Choudhury will replace Winks as the Foxes seek to bounce back from two straight defeats.

Maresca did provide some positive injury updates, confirming that Wilfred Ndidi, Yunus Akgun and Dennis Praet are all fit and available for selection.

The only player still missing from the first team set-up is long-term absentee Callum Doyle.

Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper believes Everton's 10-point deduction for breaching Financial Fair Play rules is "harsh" but is proud that the Foxes didn't follow suit despite relegation from the Premier League last season.

Leicester are exploring legal options after the Toffees' punishment was handed down after the King Power Stadium club's drop down to the Championship.

Piper says the Foxes were not good enough on the pitch to survive anyway, and is pleased they didn't spend beyond their means.

"There is a lot of deceit that goes on in the Premier League," Piper told BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast.

"When you are at a club like Leicester, they end up falling out with one of their most decorated managers [Brendan Rodgers] because he threw them under the bus, asking for more players.

"The club didn't bow to the pressure; they told us they wanted to play by the rules. Other clubs aren't doing that. I'm proud of our club. In the end it has cost us.

"10 points seems harsh when you see what is happening with other clubs, but they needed a sanction.

"[But] football-wise, we weren't good enough last season."

Listen to the full episode of When You're Smiling on BBC Sounds

Dan Roan, BBC sports editor

The same independent panel that docked Everton 10 points for breaching Premier League financial rules will decide on any financial compensation claims from rival clubs.

Leeds and Leicester - who were relegated to the Championship last season - along with Burnley - who were relegated in 2022 before returning - are weighing up whether to press ahead with a claim against the Toffees.

Had the 10 point deduction been applied in 2021-22 , Burnley would have stayed up, as would Leicester last season if it had counted then. Leeds would have finished a place higher, but would still have done down.

It has been reported Everton could potentially face claims for tens of millions of pounds.

The clubs have 28 days from the date of the ruling to decide.

If they do, barrister David Phillips KC, High Court judge His Honour Alan Greenwood, and chartered accountant Nick Igoe (former West Ham finance director), would hear their arguments.

In last week’s ruling, Phillips KC referenced applications for financial compensation from a number of clubs, saying he was "satisfied” that they had “potential claims”.

Everton have 14 days from the ruling to lodge an appeal.

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Leicester City could set a new club record of 10 straight league victories with a win against third-placed Leeds United, who currently sit 14 points behind Enzo Maresca's side.

Former Foxes striker Matty Fryatt has been discussing the Foxes' start to the season on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast: "It's been remarkable. I think everyone is scrolling through the record books at the minute, looking at what records can be achieved. It's just been relentless.

"If they are able to go and produce another performance, and get another three points, it will be mind-blowing. They could be 17 points clear [after the game]. Then you're thinking Leicester can have three defeats in the next block of 15 games, then three more defeats, and still everyone else would have to be perfect to even be within a chance of them.

"The frightening thing is that I still think there's more levels to go."

On Leeds United: "It's bigger than the QPR game but I think it is a bigger game for Leeds than it is for Leicester, just for the division's sake. It will be an entertaining one and it should be a cracking atmosphere.

"I think they [Leeds] will approach it in a similar fashion to how Sunderland did. They will try and be on the front foot, but there is space to exploit at the full-back positions and I think the wide men can take advantage of that.

"It's going to be a cracking game. It's a great advertisement for Championship football. I think Leicester will be prepared but it will be an interesting game against Leeds, who have found some decent form of late."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Leicester City will be hoping to continue their almost perfect start to the season when they come up against Leeds United tonight (20:00 GMT).

The Foxes are already 14 points clear of their third-placed opponents and will be looking to extend their lead at the top to eight points over Ipswich Town.

Another three points will also make Leicester City the first team in the second tier to win 14 of their first 15 games since Bristol City in the 1905-06 season.

In the latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast, Jack Rafferty is joined by former Foxes striker Matty Fryatt and fan Phil Holloway to look ahead to the game.

Listen now on BBC Sounds