Rock bottom Leicester City host improving Manchester United as the transfer window slams shut on Thursday with Brendan Rodgers under pressure to deliver as Erik ten Hag starts to get a tune out of his troops. The Foxes are on a run of three straight losses while the Red Devils have won their last two in the Premier League. Another loss would have alarm bells well and truly ringing in Leicestershire while a third consecutive victory would continue United’s recovery.
Storylines
Leicester: Three straight losses and Wesley Fofana leaving for Chelsea has made for a deflating start to the season. Rodgers has a job on to avoid being the next manager under pressure after Scott Parker’s dismissal and an ability to reinvest much of the Fofana fee will not help. Wout Faes of Stade de Reims has been targeted but he will not arrive in time for this one if it does get done.
United: Although the Cristiano Ronaldo situation has not resolved itself, ten Hag is pressing on with his plans to overhaul his squad and Antony is the latest part of that after a deal was agreed with AFC Ajax. Sergino Dest was a target, but that is now unlikely with Aaron Wan Bissaka set to stay.
How to watch and odds
Date: Thursday, Sept. 1 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: King Power Stadium — Leicester, England
TV: USA and NBC Universo | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Odds: LCFC +230; Draw +270; MUFC +105 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Covered by Simon Kjaer, Dest will have a strong defensive presence next to him as the team has cover to let him dribble and overlap with Alexis Saelemaekers. It’s an exciting move for Dest to show what he does well after falling out of favor under Xavi at Barcelona.
Team news
A bit of good news for Leicester. The influential pair of Wilfred Ndidi and James Maddison return to the side, as does Luke Thomas. The men dropping out are Dennis Praet, Daniel Amartey and Timothy Castagne.
Manchester United are unchanged.
Leicester City (possible 4-1-4-1) Ward; Justin, Evans, Ndidi, Thomas; Soumare; Maddison, Tielemans, Dewsbury-Hall, Barnes; Vardy.
Substitutes: Iversen, Soyuncu, Castagne, Albrighton, Praet, Brunt, Iheanacho, Perez, Daka.
Manchester United (4-2-3-1) De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia; McTominay, Eriksen; Sancho, Fernandes, Elanga; Rashford.
Substitutes: Heaton, Kovar, Lindelof, Maguire, Fred, Casemiro, van de Beek, Garnacho, Ronaldo.
Referee Craig Pawson.
For the USMNT, Dest playing anywhere would have been optimal but this is a better move for his playing style than a move to Manchester United, who were also linked to the American. Dest will get to move to the reigning Scudetto winners while also playing in the Champions League this season. Due to loan obligations, he likely won’t get to face Barcelona if they meet in the knockout stages.
Since Barcelona’s directors had to offer a financial guarantee that the team would become compliant with La Liga’s salary cap to register Jules Kounde, moving Dest’s salary off the books will help their current financial situation.