Challenges Ahead for Wout Faes: The Future of the Leicester Defender and National Team Standing

2023-06-29 17:20:00

Still in Leicester, the central defender might play in the Championship next season. Given the competition that is emerging in central defense at the Devils, Wout Faes might find himself back to the wall.

Among the four Belgians present in Leicester last season, three have not yet found a new employer as the Foxes have been relegated to the Championship. If Youri Tielemans has been formalized on the side of Aston Villa, Timothy Castagne, Dennis Praet and Wout Faes will resume training with Leicester.

What regarding the national team?

Left on the bench twice in March and not resumed during the last international break, Dennis Praet will be anything but easy to find the national team. In a redesigned selection with the Euro hopefuls, the former Anderlecht, Sampdoria and Torino did not have a say.

It must be said that in recent months, the attacking midfielder has not really shown himself to his advantage. Only 977 minutes played this season, divided into… 27 games (a little over 35 minutes per game) and starving statistics: one goal, one assist.

And Timothy Castagne evolves in a rarer position, has recently proven himself both in club and in selection and should not leave the Devils anytime soon, the question arises much more concerning Wout Faes.

Mistakes, competition and a style that no longer really matches

The 25-year-old central defender has had a difficult season. In a Leicester team that has fallen back more than it has advanced, Wout Faes was able to use his interception and clearing skills wonderfully to relieve the Foxes. But, with the ball at his feet, in a team that is building its game, the former Ostend is having a lot more difficulty.

Guilty of individual errors on several occasions in the league, Faes does not reassure in possession and will suffer from the competition: Bornauw is far from forgotten and Al-Dakhil, Debast, De Winter and the others are seriously pointing the end of their noses and will not be long before receiving new chances in A.

With a Domenico Tedesco who wants to control the game, with defenders capable of restarting cleanly and recovering balls without making too many mistakes so as not to break the rhythm too regularly, Wout Faes (5 selections) doesn’t seem to fit so much anymore.

The moment therefore seems crucial. In a less highlighted Championship, the central back will have to be almost perfect to keep his place in the core of the Devils and relaunch his career in the best possible way. Unless a European team wishes to present an amount of around 20M€ (sum estimated on Transfermarkt) to secure its services.

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