Fatuwu repeat, Arsenal stance, Cooper boost – Leicester City Reiss Nelson transfer verdict
The latest Leicester City news and opinion as the club are reportedly in talks with Arsenal over a possible loan deal for the winger.
Leicester City are reportedly in talks with Arsenal over a deal for winger Reiss Nelson as Steve Cooper looks to add to his squad.
Fabrizio Romano reports that City are in talks with the Gunners over an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy inserted into the deal. Talks are at the stage where financial terms are being discussed.
It’s then said that City are ‘confident’ that Nelson would come to the club, due to previously working with Cooper. Nelson worked with the City boss during his time with the England U17s in 2015, where he scored 11 times in 11 caps for the team.
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The links with Nelson come after Cooper admitted that the club were looking to bring more players in ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season. “Hopefully we can add a few new faces, which I know the club are trying to do and are working really hard with,” he told the club ahead of Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over Shrewsbury.
“That will give the guys a boost as well. We’ve had two very good weeks, but we need to make sure the next week is even better.”
Nelson came up through the Arsenal academy but found regular game time hard to come by last season. He made 15 Premier League appearances as Arsenal challenged Man City for the Premier League title.
So would Nelson be a good signing for City? Our LeicestershireLive writers have had their say.
Amie Wilson
Reiss Nelson would be a really good signing for City, especially if they can get him on a loan deal, similar to the one that brought Abdul Fatawu to the club last summer. Nelson can play on either side of the pitch and centrally, meaning that he provides good attacking options to Cooper.
He has shown during his time at Arsenal that he can be a real threat in the Premier League. With Fatawu, Stephy Mavididi and new signing Bobby De Cordova Reid, it gives Cooper some really good wide attacking options, and possibly allows Kasey McAteer to go out on loan, with him being linked with Cardiff City.
Some of those players may also be able to play more central roles, as was tried with Mavididi in the friendly against Shrewsbury.
An added bonus is that he has previously worked with Cooper during his time in the youth teams. Cooper will therefore know the player well and know how to get the best out of him, something that will benefit City.
Kieran King
Leicester should go all out to try and sign Reiss Nelson this summer. The winger has not quite showed his full potential in the Premier League as of yet but certainly has the ingredients to flourish at the level.
He made just one top-flight start last season for the Gunners and is set to be allowed to leave. Having worked with Steve Cooper before in the England set-up, Leicester should take advantage to lure him to the King Power Stadium.
With Cooper using a 4-2-3-1 system for large spells in the win over Shrewsbury on Tuesday, Nelson could easily slot into any of those three attacking midfield roles. He is versatile enough to play anywhere across the front line and would be a smart addition to the Foxes, especially if it’s a loan with an obligation to buy.
Liam Wood
Putting together a squad after winning Premier League promotion is never a straight-forward task. With relative constraints financially – certainly compared to the big boys – managers and key figures behind the scenes have to make sure they secure enough quality, experience and know-how to mount a successful survival bid.
Top-level pedigree is an absolute must and Nelson has that from his schooling in north London. Not only that, the winger would arrive with a point to prove, as well, arguably making him an even more dangerous proposition.
That’s so long as he settles in comfortably to new surroundings. Nelson was on the periphery for Arsenal during a title charge last season – and was deemed good enough to make 14 appearances from their substitutes bench – so the 24-year-old is by no means a stranger to the Premier League, either.
On paper, it looks to be a move in the making that makes sense for all parties.
Isaac Johnson
Nelson would be a positive acquisition for Leicester, although fans should tame their expectations of consistent output across a whole season. That’s not because he isn’t necessarily capable but because he has never been afforded consistent game time at Arsenal.
So there is an element of risk attached, which will vary in degree depending on what fee, if not a loan, he is brought in for. However, I think this opportunity comes at a good time for both parties. Nelson, now 24, will be looking for regular minutes and Leicester can offer that.
He is also the type of signing that boosts the overall level of the Foxes squad, carrying three hours of Champions League experience in a squad that has challenged for the title. Nelson could become a key figure for Cooper, whose career has shown his great work with lower-lying talent, but he ought to be given time and grace initially.
