How much Leicester City are willing to sell Wout Faes for - top-flight club circle | OneFootball

Wout Faes could be on his way out of Leicester City in January

Leicester City are reportedly demanding an eight-figure sum for the services of Wout Faes, who continues to be the subject of transfer speculation despite the recent closure of the summer window.

The Foxes have enjoyed a strong start to life under the management of Marti Cifuentes, accumulating three Championship victories and a solitary defeat at the hands of Preston North End thus far.

After the club's return to the Premier League lasted a solitary campaign under Steve Cooper and the largely underwhelming Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Foxes have undergone a major squad overhaul since relegation was confirmed in May, with several high earners and big names moving away from the King Power Stadium.

Unsurprisingly though, such is the club's stature and recent history in comparison to the vast majority of their second-tier rivals this term, there are a handful of big-name and high-reputation performers who have remained in the East Midlands following the 7PM transfer deadline on September 1st.

Faes is one name who falls into said bracket after previously being a mainstay in the Leicester side under the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Enzo Maresca since his move from Stade de Reims in September 2022.

However, with his position as a regular now under severe threat following the summer appointment of Cifuentes, the club are prepared to potentially cash in on the Belgian international's services between now and next summer.

Faes initially moved to the King Power Stadium from the aforementioned French club for £15m fee three years ago, putting pen-to-paper on a five-year contract until the summer of 2027.

The centre-back has since gone on to make over 120 appearances for the Blues, suffering two relegations as well as featuring in 43 of the club's 46 league games during their Championship-winning season of 2023/24, during which he found the back of the net twice.

However, after the club's return to the EFL this summer amid the potential of a points deduction for PSR breaches, Faes became the subject of transfer interest with just days of the summer transfer window remaining.

It had initially been reported by Fabrizio Romano that Turkish Süper Lig side, Besiktas, had made an approach for the 28-time senior international's services, just days before the Istanbul side dismissed former Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjær after losing in the UEFA Conference League play-off round.

It was then claimed that Bundesliga side, Wolfsburg, had entered negotiations with the Championship side over the possibility of a deal heading towards the transfer deadline, although a transfer move for the 27-year-old would fail to materialise.

As such, it is now being stated by Italian outfit, Corriere dello Sport - relayed by Lazio News - that the Foxes are prepared to move Faes on between January and next June - when he enters the final year of his aforementioned contract - for at least €10m, and that the centre-back would need to reduce his earnings after previous links to the Serie A club.

Such claims come through a report that Maurizio Sarri's side have identified the Mol-born defender as a potential alternative to Jan-Carlo Simić, who recently opted to switch from Anderlecht to Saudi Pro League side, Al-Ittihad, over a move to the Rome-based giants.

It is unsurprising that the Foxes are looking to recoup as much of the fee they parted with three summers ago, particularly with the club's financial situation still up in the air at this moment in time.

According to Capology - a site which ESTIMATES player earnings - Faes collects a weekly salary of £50,000, making him one of the highest earners in the Championship alongside a plethora of his teammates such as Ricardo Pereira, Harry Winks and Patson Daka.

Such a figure is hardly justifiable at this moment in time too, with Cifuentes utilising a centre-back pairing of Caleb Okoli and Jannick Vestergaard in the opening weeks of the season, which has reduced Faes to four substitute cameos - despite scoring the equaliser in a comeback victory against Sheffield Wednesday - and a solitary start in the EFL Cup First Round defeat to Huddersfield Town.

If such circumstances continue, the centre-back may feel that his ability is far greater than a substitute role in the Championship, which makes the aforementioned potential move to the Stadio Olimpico extremely viable, and one which would benefit all three parties.