Leicester City close in on trusted Russell Martin favourite after triple transfer push | OneFootball

Alex McCarthy is set to reunite with Russell Martin at Leicester City this summer following his release from Southampton

Leicester City are preparing to throw everything they've got at League One next season, as with Russell Martin now at the helm at the King Power Stadium, the Foxes' summer business has been upped an ante.

Neither Marti Cifuentes nor Gary Rowett could prevent Leicester from suffering back-to-back relegations last season, with the Foxes set for just their second-ever year in the third tier in their entire history.

Former Southampton and Rangers boss Russell Martin has been headhunted as the club's ideal candidate to take them back to the Championship at the first time of asking, with the 40-year-old likely to have a huge say in the club's transfer dealings following his appointment.

Former Liverpool, Southampton, and Aston Villa striker Danny Ings (34) is set to sign on a free transfer following his release from Sheffield United, as is former Ipswich Town star Conor Chaplin, with Football League World having exclusively broken the news of the Foxes' interest in the 29-year-old.

Now, Ings and Chaplin are set to be followed through the doors by a fellow veteran of the English game, and a face that Martin will be more than familiar with.

Leicester City are set to sign former Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy on a free transfer, with Russell Martin plotting a reunion

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Following the completion of the campaign, Leicester announced that ten senior players would leave the club, either on the expiry of their contracts or the end of their loan spells, including the likes of Ricardo Pereira, Patson Daka, Jordan James, and Divine Mukasa.

Jeremy Monga's potential £12.5 million move to Manchester City will bring in some much-needed money for the Foxes, though how much of that Martin will have the opportunity to spend in the window remains to be seen.

Free transfers appear to be the route the Foxes are going down at the moment, as former Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy appears to be next in line through the doors at the King Power Stadium this summer, as per Pete O'Rourke via X.

McCarthy, 36, is well-acquainted with Martin already, having worked together during their time on the South Coast with the Saints, with the Englishman proving to be one of the heroes of their promotion to the Premier League that year.

With Gavin Bazunu having predominantly appeared as Southampton's number one during the 2023/24 season, McCarthy was thrust into action for the final five games of the season and played every single minute of Saints' play-off campaign, in which they were victorious over Leeds United at Wembley.

Jakub Stolarczyk is expected to remain as Leicester's number one heading into next season, though with Asmir Begovic yet to sign fresh terms following the end of his contract with the club, Martin has turned his attentions to a backup option he knows he can trust in McCarthy.

With over 150 Premier League appearances and over 80 Championship appearances to his name for the likes of Southampton and Reading, McCarthy will add some much-needed experience and know-how off the pitch, and though he will likely initially serve as a backup option, he is a safe pair of hands and is someone Martin knows he can rely upon.

Russell Martin will have eyes on an immediate Championship return following the impending arrival of Alex McCarthy

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With the arrivals of Ings, Chaplin, and McCarthy pending, Leicester appear to be focusing on experience rather than youth at this stage, though that doesn't mean Martin won't have youthful additions lined up.

In fact, the Foxes are likely to dive into their youth academy next season for options, with each of Louis Page, Will Alves, and Jake Evans having the potential to play starring roles next year.

Martin will be fixated on the prospect of promotion with the Foxes, and though McCarthy's addition likely won't play as big of a role as many other incomings, his addition could yet prove to be priceless.