Leicester City
Valencia in Advanced Position for Harry Winks as Leicester Weigh Options
Valencia are the frontrunners for Harry Winks as Leicester weigh a transfer with one year left now.
Valencia are reported to be leading the race for Leicester City midfielder Harry Winks as the club considers its options with the player entering the final year of his contract. The 29-year-old joined Leicester City in 2023 and played an instrumental role in their title-winning 2023/24 Championship campaign.
Winks began the current campaign on the bench for Leicester City’s Championship opener against Sheffield Wednesday, a reminder of the uncertainty surrounding his future at the King Power Stadium. According to Mike McGrath via X, Valencia are currently the team in the most advanced position to strike a deal for the midfielder.
Other clubs have been linked with interest. Italian outfit Fiorentina have been credited with interest, and Premier League side Brentford are thought to be long-term admirers as they look to address their midfield further after signing Jordan Henderson. Winks also has previous experience in Serie A, having spent a season on loan at Sampdoria.
Off the field, last season saw Winks’ relationship with the club sour after falling out with former boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, reportedly refusing to stay at the training ground one night a week after his partner gave birth. He was subsequently dropped from the first team by Van Nistelrooy, with his last appearance coming in March.
With just a year left on his deal and an estimated weekly wage of £90,000, Leicester may find it difficult to turn down an approach. On the field, new Leicester boss Marti Cifuentes has favoured a possession-oriented system similar to that operated under Enzo Maresca during the 2023/24 campaign. Winks previously thrived in such a role, with his passing and ability to control a game’s tempo among his key attributes.
Having spent eight years at Tottenham Hotspur and made over 200 appearances, and after a season-long loan at Sampdoria, his experience — including starting in a Champions League final — would be hard to replace late in the summer window.
Chelsea
Foreign Stalwarts: Non-English Players Who Became Premier League Mainstays
Non-English players became Premier League mainstays through longevity consistency and contributions.
Since 1992 the Premier League has been defined by English talent and by players from abroad and neighboring nations who provided steadiness season after season. Some of the competition’s most trusted appearance makers are not English, with many racking up matches after arriving from overseas or from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Schwarzer arrived as a dependable presence and proved something of a lucky charm in the top flight. The former Bradford City man played his part in Boro and the Cottagers reaching UEFA Cup/Europa League finals, and he even ‘won’ the Premier League twice—with Chelsea and Leicester—despite not making a single league appearance in either title-winning campaign.
Sylvain Distin was a Premier League stalwart for years, retiring in 2016 at the age of 38. His first venture in England was a season-long loan with Newcastle United that led to a permanent move to Manchester City. He went on to captain the future Premier League champions prior to their big-money investment, then enjoyed a two-year spell at Portsmouth that yielded FA Cup success. Everton benefited from Distin’s prime extending into his 30s and he made almost as many appearances for the Toffees as he did for City—174 in six seasons.
Ryan Giggs’s record of 13 Premier League title wins with Manchester United will probably never be bettered. The Welshman was already an established United player when the Premier League kicked off in 1992–93, and he was a key figure for Sir Alex Ferguson as the club rose to the top of the country. Later in his career Giggs converted into a central midfielder and produced some of his best football. Winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award in the 2008–09 season at age 35 was followed by another two Premier League titles prior to his retirement in 2014.
Forget Arjen Robben, Damien Duff was the real star winger in José Mourinho’s early Chelsea sides, yet he’s often underrated and not given the credit he deserves. A pacy, consistent performer, Duff rose to prominence at Blackburn Rovers as a natural left winger, terrifying right backs with his running and superb delivery. Goals followed and Chelsea came calling after the Roman Abramovich-led takeover in 2003. Duff was instrumental in Chelsea winning the Premier League two seasons in a row before being phased out. Newcastle United were the next stop in his 18-year top-flight career, followed by Fulham and then a move Down Under.
Leicester City
El Khannouss’ Display Strengthens Premier League Interest
El Khannouss provided two assists in Leicester’s 2-1 opening win and is attracting PL interest today
El Khannouss has emerged as a clear focus for Premier League clubs following his recent performance for Leicester. The Moroccan international is attracting interest from other Premier League clubs, including Leeds. That interest is grounded in a tangible showing on the opening day of Leicester’s Championship campaign.
In Leicester’s 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, El Khannouss played the full 90 minutes and contributed directly to the scoreline by providing two assists. Playing the entire match underlines his readiness for sustained involvement, while the two assists stand out as decisive contributions in a tight result.
Those facts together explain why Premier League sides have taken notice. A player who completes the full match and creates two goals in the opening fixture presents a combination of fitness and immediate impact that recruiters and coaching staffs value. The reported interest from clubs in the top flight, including Leeds, follows directly from that performance.
Leicester will now manage a situation in which a performer from their opening day win is drawing external attention. For supporters and observers, the immediate evidence is clear: El Khannouss offered a match-long presence and two goal assists in a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. That single game provides the core basis for the transfer interest now being reported.
The coming weeks will show whether the attention from Premier League clubs develops into formal approaches. For now, the sequence of events is straightforward. El Khannouss delivered a full 90-minute performance and two assists in Leicester’s opening Championship match, and that contribution is coincident with increased interest from Premier League clubs, including Leeds.
