LEICESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 11: Leicester City Manager Enzo Maresca speaks during a press conference at Leicester City Training Ground, Seagrave on April 11, 2024 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
“Ready for something new” – Leicester City players drops future reveal after contracts terminated
The Belgian midfielder is at the end of his journey with the Foxes, and he’s keen to return to where he came from
Leicester City midfielder Dennis Praet has revealed that he is “ready for something new” and would like to return to Italy when he becomes a free agent this summer.
The Belgian joined the Foxes nearly five years ago from Sampodoria. He’s won an FA Cup and a Community Shield with the club, but, after this lengthy tenure, he is scheduled to leave Leicester in the coming weeks.
His departure hasn’t been made official yet, as the club have not released their released/retained list for this season, but he is expected to leave, and his recent comments certainly suggest that.
Praet has opened up on what his time with Leicester has been like, and where he sees his future lying.
Dennis Praet reveals hopeful free agent destination
The 29-year-old would like to go back to Serie A once he leaves Leicester. Praet spent a season on loan with Torino, during the 2021/22 campaign, and was with Sampodoria for three seasons, prior to his move to the King Power Stadium – which cost City around £18 million, as per Sky Sports.
“Yes, Italy will always be ahead,” said the midfielder to Nieuwsblad. “I played three years at Sampdoria and one at Torino, my best years abroad. The tactics in Italy attract me a lot. This year I had an Italian coach like Maresca; he impressed me.
“The English players say they have never learned so much, and I still have my Italian phone number. I have never changed it… I would like to return to Italy, where I have always felt comfortable.”
On a possible return to Torino, he said: “They looked for me, but a return never happened. At Leicester they thought I was too good, useful and versatile to let me go on the cheap. I’m not dramatic or someone who pushes to move, but I would certainly listen to an offer from Torino, even now.”
Praet admitted that, even though he hasn’t played as much as he would have liked to, he has enjoyed his time with City, and didn’t regret the opportunity to pursue a career in England.
Leicester need to reinforce their midfield in the summer
The Foxes are set to lose players in the summer through free agency, and a few of them play in the middle of the pitch. On top of Praet, Wilfred Ndidi and Marc Albrighton are two more midfielders whose contracts run out at the end of June.
You add to that the threat of losing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has reported interest from Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford, and there could be a lot of gaps to fill in that position.
Dewsbury-Hall has said that he has no plans to leave the club this summer.
Leicester may be restricted in what business they can do this summer to bring players in, but that which they can do should focus on their midfield.
