Leicester City could have a very different look to their side if they manage to convince Graham Potter to become their new manager.
Enzo Maresca was appointed as manager last summer following the club’s surprise relegation and did a fine job as he steered Leicester City to the Championship title.
It was clear from watching Maresca’s side that he had worked closely with Pep Guardiola, with Maresca the Manchester City coach’s assistant prior to being given the Leicester job.
With Maresca having departed the Foxes following promotion to take the Chelsea job, Leicester have now narrowed their managerial shortlist to one clear favourite with Graham Potter the man they are looking to appoint.
Potter is said to have his reservations about taking the job – with a potential points deduction not helping matters – but has been left impressed by the set-up and squad during discussions.
Graham Potter would mean Leicester City formation change
Potter’s most recent job ended with the 49-year-old sacked by Chelsea after just seven months.
However, prior to that the English manager had seen his reputation rise meteorically.
After first gaining attention for leading his Osterstunds side to a Europa League knockout clash with Arsenal in 2018, Potter managed both Swansea City and Brighton en route to being made Todd Boehly’s first managerial appointment at Chelsea.
Potter is famously very flexible tactically, and has earned the admiration of Guardiola for the way he coaches his teams, but it is likely that he would set Leicester up with a back three if he were to take the reins.
Whilst his sides are notorious for changing formation multiple times during games and being incredibly fluid in possession, Potter has tended to favour a 3-4-2-1 shape across his managerial career and it is likely this would be his starting point once more at Leicester.
This would represent a significant change from Maresca’s 4-3-3 set-up, in which inverted full-backs were a key feature.
Potter appointment could see new Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall position
Potter is not conventional when it comes to positions and roles.
Players in a Potter side must be willing to play in a number of different positions, with the ex-Chelsea boss a firm believer that players should be capable of carrying out a variety of instructions.
One of his most common traits is to use a playmaker, or the sides most technically gifted player, as the deepest midfielder.
A prime example of this was his use of Adam Lallana at Brighton.
Having signed from Liverpool, Lallana had spent the bulk of his career playing as a number ten; the most advanced midfield role.
However, Potter reinvented the England international as a holding midfield player given his passing ability and qualities in tight spaces.
Alexis Mac Allister and Pascal Gross both played similar roles at times whilst Potter was in charge of the Seagulls and it is a role he may well have already earmarked for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall within the current Leicester squad.
With 26 Championship goal contributions last season, Dewsbury-Hall thrived in a more advanced role under Maresca.
However, with Potter likely to want his side to take control of matches in the Premier League, the 25-year-old could be utilised in the deeper role.
With that in mind, here is how Leicester could line up under Potter next season, including two players that the club could look to sign this summer.
Formation 3-4-2-1:
Goalkeeper – Mads Hermansen
Centre-back – Wout Faes
Centre-back – Jannik Vestergaard
Centre-back – David Hancko (New signing)
Right wingback – Ricardo Pereira
Centre-midfield – Wilfred Ndidi
Centre-midfield – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Left wingback – James Justin
Right attacking midfield – Issahaku Fatawu
Left attacking midfield – Stephy Mavididi
Centre-forward – Mohamed Konate (New signing)
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