Leicester City are interested in a move for Mohamed Elyounoussi this summer, who would become the Foxes’ sixth signing from Southampton during the Premier League-era to date.
Brendan Rodgers is keen to strengthen his options at the King Power Stadium after failing to qualify for a European competition this season. The East Midlands natives finished four points behind West Ham United for seventh-place and a Europa Conference League berth.
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It was the first time in three seasons that Leicester have finished outside of the European places. The Foxes had also finished each of the previous two campaigns in fifth-place, but claimed 14 fewer points than in 2020/21 having won six fewer games and lost twice more.
Leicester are interested in third Southampton raid in a year to sign Elyounoussi
Rodgers raided St Mary’s twice last year in his efforts to improve on a season that saw the Foxes miss out on Champions League qualification by a single point. Ryan Bertrand left the south coast at the end of his contract, before Jannik Vestergaard followed in a £15m deal.
Now, the Leicester boss is keen to return to Southampton to sign Elyounoussi this summer, with TV2 citing Rodgers’ interest. Other Premier League teams are also monitoring the 27-year-old’s situation as he is set to enter the final year of his £60k-a-week contract this July.
Clubs in Italy have also begun exploring the Norway international’s availability, while MLS may emerge as a lucrative destination for the 43-cap winger. But Elyounoussi has told TV2 that he is already in talks with Southampton over a potential new deal to stay at St Mary’s.
“We are in a dialogue, we’ve been talking for a while,” he confirmed. “It has only been the starting phase, you might say. I’ve always said I thrive in Southampton, it’s a fantastic club. The family thrives well. We’ll see what we land on, I do not have the whole picture yet.”
Elyounoussi’s long-term agent, Ferhat Cifci, also told TV2: “We have a good dialogue with Southampton. They will, of course, extend his contract.” The forward is currently still on the original terms he agreed with the Saints when joining from FC Basel for £16m in 2018.
Rodgers may step up Leicester’s interest in Elyounoussi if Cifci fails to agree a new contract with Southampton this summer. So, how have the five players the Foxes have signed from the Saints previously gone on to fare during their respective careers in the East Midlands?
Vestergaard last Southampton player to join Leicester amid Elyounoussi interest
Vestergaard took the path away from Southampton that Elyounoussi may now follow amid Rodgers’ interest after Leicester lost Wesley Fofana for around eight months. He fractured his right fibula and suffered medial knee ligament damage during a friendly with Villarreal.
However, the 29-year-old would not enjoy a productive debut campaign at the King Power this term. Rodgers started Vestergaard in just six Premier League games and awarded him another four appearances as a substitute. His last league outing also came on February 13.
Now, The Telegraph report Leicester have already informed Vestergaard he is available for a transfer this summer – just one season into the four year contract he signed last August.
Bertrand suffered injury-hit debut season after 2021 Southampton departure
Like Vestergaard, Bertrand also endured a frustrating debut season with Leicester after his departure from Southampton in 2021. The 32-year-old played in just four Premier League fixtures after his arrival as a free agent, plus four Europa League and two Carabao Cup ties.
His last top-flight outing also occurred back on October 3 before Bertrand spent five of the Foxes’ next nine games as an unused substitute. Rodgers last included the 19-cap England international in a Premier League matchday squad on December 12 at home to Newcastle.
Rodgers would additionally be without Bertrand past Christmas before undergoing season-ending knee surgery in February. The left-back suffered the gripe while the Foxes warmed up away to Manchester City on Boxing Day. He will now hope to recover for next season.
Hammond helped Leicester to Championship glory after Southampton exit
Dean Hammond made 145 appearances for Southampton after joining from Colchester in 2009, up to joining Leicester in 2013. Only with Brighton between joining in his youth and moving to Colchester in 2008 did the midfielder feature more often for one club with 188.
The Hastings native had an instant impact as a squad player with the Foxes, though, as he helped Nigel Pearson’s side win the Championship title in 2013/14. Hammond later joined Sheffield United on loan ahead of Leicester’s ‘15/16 Premier League title-winning season.
Kenton eclipsed Saints appearance tally after Foxes move
Darren Kenton eclipsed his tally of 33 appearances with Southampton in all competitions after leaving the Saints for Leicester in 2005. The centre-half had spent the previous two seasons on the south coast after leaving Norwich, with whom he had featured 155 times.
The Wandsworth-born enforcer would turn out 49 times for the Foxes, having remained in the East Midlands after an initial loan from Southampton. But Kenton’s time with the club ended in January 2008 when sealing a temporary move to Leeds they turned permanent.
Speedie sealed Southampton exit in Leicester’s first Premier League raid
David Speedie sealed his exit from Southampton as Leicester’s first signing from the Saints in the Premier League-era in 1993. The 10-cap Scotland international had only moved to the south coast a year prior, before loan spells at Birmingham, West Brom and West Ham.
Speedie would similarly only enjoy a season with Leicester before joining Crawley Town in 1994. But his sole season at the Foxes helped the club seal promotion out of Division One.
Elyounoussi would no doubt hope to enjoy a longer career with Leicester than Speedie and Kenton – and potentially Vestergaard – managed should Rodgers step up his interest in the Southampton forward’s transfer this summer, if contract talks do not ultimately work out.
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