Potential Leicester City signing Cengiz Under would likely slot straight into the club’s best 11 – provided Brendan Rodgers sticks with a back four.
A loan-to-buy deal is in the works for the Roma and Turkey star, who would be brought in to provide the creativity from wide that Rodgers is craving.
Although injuries and selection saw him limited to just 10 Serie A starts last season, he ranked in the division’s top 10 for chances created per 90 minutes.
In the 4-1-4-1 formation City used for the majority of last season, and for the opening game of this campaign, Under would be expected to take up a place on the right of the midfield quartet, where he would face competition from Ayoze Perez, Demarai Gray, and Marc Albrighton.
Then, Harvey Barnes would be on the other side, with Youri Tielemans and James Maddison in the middle.
If City had a fully-fit squad, Ricardo Pereira would likely be providing support for Under from right-back. However, the Portuguese is currently sidelined as he recovers from knee surgery, and so summer recruit Timothy Castagne looks set for a stint at right-back.
When Ricardo is fit, Castagne could move across to left-back, having shown he is capable of playing on both flanks during his time with Atalanta.
However, Castagne’s arrival has also prompted suggestions City may stick with the three-at-the-back system they employed at the end of last season, allowing the Belgian to play in the wing-back role he most regularly played in Italy, and with his national team.
City are also trying to bring in a new centre-back, with their focus on Saint-Etienne’s Wesley Fofana, and he could take James Justin’s place next to Jonny Evans and Caglar Soyuncu.
In a back three, Under would find it difficult to earn a place in the side. City would likely then play 3-5-2, fielding Wilfred Ndidi and Tielemans as a midfield pairing, with Maddison behind a front two of Jamie Vardy, and either Kelechi Iheanacho or Barnes.
Rodgers did occasionally operate with a wide front three for a 3-4-3 set-up at the end of last term, and Under would be more likely to slot into that side, but either Tielemans or Maddison would have to make way.
