£20m man left out of Leicester’s Europa League squad, future unclear
Attacking wide-man Demarai Gray has been omitted from Leicester’s Europa League squad ahead of their first game on Thursday, according to reports.
Leicestershire Live state that the 24-year-old has not been given a place in Brendan Rodgers’ European plans amid uncertainty over his future.
Currently in the final year of his contract, Gray was linked to a move to Leeds United before the transfer window shut having not signed a new deal due to assurances about his game time.
The Mirror reported that the switch would have cost around £20million but any potential agreement failed to materialise before deadline day earlier this month.
Now, the Premier League winner has been left out of the Foxes’ continental journey. Leicester will kick off their Europa League campaign against Ukrainian outfit Zorya Luhansk on Thursday.
Also missing the cut is defender Daniel Amartey and striker Islam Slimani.
Rodgers said: “Demarai, because of when we had to hand the squad in, we weren’t sure if he was going to be here or not. But he is going to be in our Premier League squad and will be available for that.”
“Daniel was purely because of injury,” Rodgers added. “He’s going to be out for a long period.
“He’s sustained a really bad hamstring injury which is such a shame because he’s worked so hard after a couple of years out, to get game-time and play so well against Manchester City, and then to play against West Ham and to pick up the injury. We were so disappointed for him.”
Subscribe to TEAMtalk’s daily newsletter…
Leicester target could become free agent soon
According to Leicestershire Live, Foxes target Florian Thuavin is set to become a free agent within the next few months.
The former Newcastle United attacker is yet to agree a new deal with current club Marseille and is free to talk to other clubs in January.
The 27-year-old was part of France’s 2018 World Cup-winning squad and was linked with a move to Leicester during the summer.
Marseille sporting director Pablo Longoria said: “Thauvin is a club heritage, that’s why it’s hard to lose an important player like him.
“He will be free to agree terms with another club [in January] and that’s why we all have to work together – club, player, entourage – to find the best solution.”
Leicester brought in three players during the summer; Wesley Fofana and Timothy Castagne signed on permanent deals and Cengiz Under joined on loan from Roma.