£9m Leicester City exit should provoke Marti Cifuentes to launch bid to beat Celtic to ex-Burnley ace | OneFootball

Leicester City must do all they can to sign Josh Brownhill as Wilfred Ndidi looks set to join Besiktas.

Leicester City are gearing up for life under new boss Marti Cifuentes, but it’s fair to say that the squad he has now could look a lot different next month.

Despite their relegation, and the threat of a points deduction hanging over the Foxes, there hasn’t been the huge turnover of players that many were expecting just yet.

Of course, there have been departures, with club legend Jamie Vardy leaving on a free, and Conor Coady’s exit to Wrexham will free up some wages, but a lot more activity will take place before the deadline, and the business Cifuentes can do in terms of incomings is likely to be directly linked to outgoings.

Leicester City set for busy end to transfer window as Wilfred Ndidi closes in on move

And, one player who seems set for an imminent move from the King Power Stadium is Wilfred Ndidi, with Besiktas poised to sign the Nigerian.

That is a setback for Leicester, as Ndidi has the ability to be a standout player in the Championship - just as he was when Enzo Maresca’s side won the league.

However, a £9m release clause that became active following relegation meant it was always unlikely he would stick around, and he now looks set to take the next step of his career in Turkey.

Josh Brownhill would be a statement signing for Leicester City

Naturally, that has got Leicester fans talking about who could replace the 28-year-old, and Josh Brownhill is the standout name that jumps out.

Obviously, it should be said that it would be a very tough sell to convince the midfielder to return to the Championship, as he has just won promotion from the division with Burnley, before deciding to leave Turf Moor.

As you would expect, he has been linked with a host of clubs, with West Ham, Celtic and Leeds believed to be among his admirers.

So, many will rightly wonder why Leicester have a chance of his signature. But it has been reported that they are very keen on the player, and, unlike the others, they may be more willing to offer him a long-term contract, as Brownhill turns 30 in December.

Plus, Leicester will be able to make him a key player straight away, which is something that those rivalling him for his signature may not offer.

Given his age and experience, Brownhill will want to play week in, week out, and becoming a central figure to the Leicester project under Cifuentes may appeal.

Then, in terms of what he can bring to the pitch, it’s a no-brainer from the perspective of the Foxes, and to pick up a player of that ilk without paying a transfer fee would really be a statement of intent.

Brownhill showed what he was about last season, scoring 18 goals from midfield, and you can imagine Cifuentes will set up a system that allows him to get into the final third as often as possible.

In Vardy’s absence, Leicester are going to need to share the goals around the team. The days of relying on the legendary striker are over, so others need to step up.

Josh Brownhill’s experience could be a massive help to Leicester City

Another reason why Leicester should be pushing to sign Brownhill is the experience that he will bring to the dressing room, and that could be invaluable.

Perhaps the only positive to relegation was that it has allowed the club to focus on youth, with Ben Nelson and Jeremy Monga just two of the academy graduates who are set for more prominent roles.

But, successful teams always need the right balance, and Brownhill will add know-how to the group, as he has been there and won promotion himself, which included captaining Burnley in the previous campaign.

Ultimately, whilst Leicester aren’t going to be in a position to splash huge sums on players before the deadline, they are still an attractive option, and sealing a deal for Brownhill would be a dream signing for Cifuentes as he looks to take the club back to the Premier League at the first attempt.