Jamie Vardy bid farewell to the King Power Stadium on Sunday, but he likely wasn’t the only Leicester City player making a final appearance at home.
Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy described the upcoming summer rebuild as a “puzzle” the club needs to start solving now. While Vardy’s departure was the focal point of Sunday’s match, several other players may also have played their last game at the stadium.
Only a few departures are certain at this stage – including loanees Facundo Buonanotte and Odsonne Edouard, along with out-of-contract goalkeepers Daniel Iversen and Danny Ward – but a major squad overhaul is anticipated. When Leicester were last relegated, 13 senior players exited, and a similar exodus could follow this summer.
Some players are expected to leave by choice to avoid playing in the Championship, while others may be sold to raise funds for the club. Van Nistelrooy believes this process should already be underway, but says he lacks the support and alignment from the club’s leadership to begin planning.
When asked if more players had made their last King Power appearance, he replied:
“We’ll have to wait and see how things develop. It’s clear with Jamie and a few others who are out of contract, but for those still under contract, their future is uncertain.”
He continued: “You need to start putting the puzzle together – figure out who’s leaving and what pieces you need to replace. I wish that had already begun.”
Sunday may also have marked van Nistelrooy’s final game in charge at the King Power. His future remains uncertain, with the club reportedly exploring other managerial options ahead of their Championship campaign.
Despite the uncertainty, the Dutchman is ending on a high note. The 2-0 win over Ipswich marked the first time this season that City have gone three games unbeaten.
“I believe in my methods,” he said. “I know that with consistent work, results will come. Unfortunately, they didn’t arrive soon enough – that’s the frustrating part.”
