Russell Martin drops update on Wout Faes' future at Leicester City | OneFootball

Belgian international Wout Faes could remain with Leicester City next season, admits head coach Russell Martin

Leicester City find themselves in a situation no supporter would have believed just a few years ago, and as they prepare for life in the third tier for just the second time in their history, new head coach Russell Martin has an array of huge decisions to make between now and the end of the window.

Three relegations in four years have led Leicester to League One for just the second time in their history, and the first time in 18 years, with the Foxes looking for an immediate fire escape back to the Championship.

Neither Marti Cifuentes nor Gary Rowett could keep the club afloat in the second tier, as former Southampton and Rangers boss Russell Martin has been given the task of guiding the club back to the second tier.

Each of Danny Ings, Conor Chaplin, and Alex McCarthy look set to sign on the dotted line at the King Power Stadium, whilst Jeremy Monga's £12.5 million exit almost certainly won't be the last this summer.

Now, with pre-season underway, Martin is giving chances to everyone in their current ranks to prove their worth, as an unexpected name has taken the armband for a friendly, with the Scottish head coach admitting his future remains uncertain.

Wout Faes could stay at Leicester City next season following Russell Martin's comments

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Ten senior players have already left Leicester following the end of their contracts or loan spells with the club, including the likes of Ricardo Pereira, Jordan James, Patson Daka, and Aaron Ramsey.

Harry Winks and Ben Nelson have also been linked with moves away from the King Power Stadium following back-to-back relegations, as the Foxes squad is set to look completely different on the opening day of the League One campaign.

Other senior players such as Caleb Okoli, Harry Souttar, Oliver Skipp, and Abdul Fatawu, and Wout Faes too, have their futures up in the air, though the latter has been the subject of some interesting comments from Martin following a pre-season friendly against Bristol Rovers.

The Belgian was handed the captain's armband, sparking numerous questions around the Foxes fanbase, with Martin saying: "Pre-season I wouldn't get too caught up in it. We had two different captains on Saturday and two different ones tonight.

"I'm trying to learn about the players. I can't judge from what's gone on, I can only judge from what I've seen in two-and-a-half weeks. He's been an unbelievable professional. Really dedicated, helps the young guys in every session and he's a really good football player."

Faes, 28, first made the move to Leicester in the summer of 2022 in a £15 million deal from Reims, and played crucial roles in the Foxes' relegation in 2023, promotion in 2024, and relegation in 2025, although he would spend the second half of last campaign on loan with Monaco.

135 appearances across all competitions later and with one year remaining on his current deal, the 28-capped Belgian international finds himself in an interesting position, as Martin admits he doesn't know what the future holds for him.

He said: "Whether he'll be here or not [at the end of the window], I don't know, you can ask me about half of the squad with the interest.

"But whilst you are still here, the guys who are maybe thinking their future is elsewhere, try and give us everything you've got and we'll give everything we've got.

"So far, he's been immaculate and has been a real good example to the young guys. I got told he had a real tough time here, before the game, I wasn't aware of that really, I wasn't here.

"Since we've been here, he's been great. As long as he keeps doing that whilst he's here, no problem. On Saturday, you'll see two different captains."

Indeed, the former Southampton head coach did not go as far as to say Faes will for sure be a Leicester player when they travel to Notts County on the opening day of the campaign, but refused to rule out him remaining with the club.

It would be a surprise to see him stay put, certainly, though stranger things have happened, and the centre-back could yet stick around for one more promotion season with the Foxes.

Russell Martin has some huge decisions to make regarding the futures of Leicester City's senior players, as doubt is cast on Wout Faes' future

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As Martin takes the reins at the King Power Stadium, he will be well aware of the task laid out in front of him.

Premier League champions just a decade ago, and FA Cup winners just five years ago, there's no escaping the reality that Leicester, by all accounts, are not a third-tier team by stature. However, in reality, that's where they are, and Martin must find a way to change that as soon as possible.

Monaco had the option to trigger Faes' buyout option for just €8 million (£6.8 million), but declined to take that deal, leaving the Belgian at a crossroads in his career.

Should he stick around with Leicester for the ride, he'd be one of the most high-profile players to grace the third tier, and one Martin could certainly utilise. Though, whether he will be a Fox in a month's time remains to be seen.