Forecasting Leicester City's Lineup for the 2025-26 Premier League Season
## Forecasting Leicester City's Lineup for the 2025-26 Premier League Season
Following their dramatic top-flight return under Enzo Maresca last term, excitement surges at King Power Stadium as fans wonder what the squad will look like come August 2025. While player movements are inevitable, a core structure feels emerging based on current trajectory and needs. Here’s how they *could* line up:
### Goalkeeping & Defensive Rock
* **GK: Mads Hermansen** – The Danish shot-stopper proved his worth spectacularly last season and remains unequivocally number one. His distribution skills vital for building from the back under Maresca’s philosophy. Young backup Stolarczyk waits patiently but won't displace him just yet.
* **RB: Conor Coady** – A natural leader at right-back, offering defensive solidity and experience alongside growing understanding of the high line. Could face competition from Academy graduate Bowen.
* **CB Partnership: Wout Faes & Jan Bednarek** – This rejuvenated central pairing looked far more comfortable playing regularly together than previous experiments. Faes organizes, Bednarek commands airily; expect them to be anchored by...
* **LB: James Justin** – When fit, his explosive pace overlapping down the left wing provides crucial width and crosses. Maresca values his attacking threat; fitness is key after injury struggles ended last campaign on a high note. Victor Kristiansen pushes hard though.
### Midfield Engine Room & Creative Flair
* **CDM Metronome: Hamza Choudhury** – Maresca unlocked his best attributes at this position last year. He dictates tempo, breaks lines with progressive passes, and shields the defence perfectly. Wilfred Ndidi offers powerful alternative but Hermansen suits Choudhury’s style better. New signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall brings energy off bench.
* **Advanced Playmakers: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall / Boubakary Soumaré** & **Harvey Barnes** – KDH thrived late on as the energetic box-to-box presence alongside the technical brilliance of Barnes drifting inside from the left channel. Soumaré adds physicality and goalscoring threat from midfield when rotated in. Their combinations offer balance.
* **RW/LW Sparkle: Dennis Praet** – A revelation deployed freely across both flanks last season. His dribbling, vision, and eye for a final ball make him indispensable. Likely starts wide right, swapping flanks fluidly during games.
### Striking Hope & Competition
* **CF: Patson Daka** – Back to his lethal best towards the end of 2024, his relentless pressing and clinical finishing earned crucial points. He leads the line aggressively, holding up play brilliantly too. Jamie Vardy remains a legendary supersub option for specific situations. Young hotshot Tom Cannon deserves chances but starting behind Daka.
### Predicted Starting XI (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
| Pos | Player | Key Traits | Challenger |
| :-------- | :------------------- | :-------------------------------------- | :----------------- |
| **GK** | Mads Hermansen | Commanding presence, excellent kicking | Larsen |
| **RB** | Conor Coady | Leadership, tactical discipline | Bowen |
| **CB** | Wout Faes | Ball-playing, calm under pressure | Vestergaard |
| **CB** | Jan Bednarek | Aerial dominance, physicality | Okoli |
| **LB** | James Justin | Pace, crossing ability | Kristiansen |
| **CM** | Hamza Choudhury | Deep lying playmaker, passer | Ndidi |
| **CM** | Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall | Box-to-box energy, goal threat | Winks |
| **AM** | Harvey Barnes | Trickery, creativity, set pieces | McAteer |
| **LW** | Dennis Praet | Dribbler, chance creator | Pereira |
| **ST** | Patson Daka | Pressing machine, clinical finisher | Vardy / Cannon |