Leicester City

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We have reached the knock-out rounds of the World Cup but there are still plenty of players from the English Football League representing their country.

Here is where you can watch them in the round of 32:

Sunday, 28 June

• Lyle Foster, Burnley - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)

• Alfie Jones, Middlesbrough - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)

• Ali Ahmed, Norwich City - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)

• Cyle Larin, Southampton - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)

Tuesday, 30 June

• Crysencio Summerville, West Ham - Netherlands v Morocco (02:00 BST)

• Sondre Langas, Derby County - Ivory Coast v Norway (18:00 BST)

• Egil Selvik, Watford - Ivory Coast v Norway (18:00 BST)

• David Moller Wolfe, Wolves - Ivory Coast v Norway (18:00 BST)

• Hjalmar Ekdal, Burnley - France v Sweden (22:00 BST)

• Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, Derby County - France v Sweden (22:00 BST)

• Viktor Johansson, Stoke City - France v Sweden (22:00 BST)

Wednesday, 1 July

• Edson Alvarez, West Ham - Mexico v Ecuador(02:00 BST)

• Raul Jimenez, Wolves - Mexico v Ecuador(02:00 BST)

• Axel Tuanzebe, Burnley - England v DR Congo (17:00 BST)

• Edo Kayembe, Watford - England v DR Congo (17:00 BST)

• Aaron Wan-Bissaka, West Ham - England v DR Congo (17:00 BST)

• El-Hadji Malick Diouf, West Ham - Belgium v Senegal (21:00 BST)

Friday, 3 July

• Jose Sa, Wolves - Portugal v Croatia (00:00 BST)

• Zeki Amdouni, Burnley - Switzerland v Algeria (04:00 BST)

• Harry Souttar, Leicester City - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)

• Mohamed Toure, Norwich City - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)

• Cameron Burgess, Swansea City - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)

• Nestory Irankunda, Watford - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)

Saturday, 4 July

• Abdul Fatawu, Leicester City, Colombia v Ghana (02:30 BST)

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Hartlepool have signed forward Chris Popov on a two-year deal following his departure from Leicester City.

The 21-year-old made one senior appearance for the Foxes during the EFL Cup and spent time on loan at Barrow and Morecambe during the past two seasons.

Popov has also represented Wales at various age grade levels including 17 games for their under-21 team.

He links up with new Pools signing Jack Nolan, who he played alongside at the Shrimpers combining for 26 goals during the second half of last season.

West Ham United are interested in Leicester's Ghana international Abdul Fatawu. The winger has become a target for the Hammers with Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen both being linked with moves away after their relegation from the Premier League. (The Standard), external

Want more EFL transfer gossip? Read more of Friday's headlines here.

Leicester City are targeting free-agent midfielder Conor Chaplin to help their bid to make an immediate return to the Championship. The 29-year-old was released by Ipswich Town at the end of last season having spent the campaign on loan at Portsmouth.(Football League World), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at - gossip column here.

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Norwich City defender Jose Cordoba was part of the starting XI for Panama in their game against Croatia on Wednesday but their 1-0 defeat means they exit the World Cup.

Croatia substitute Ante Budimir scored the only goal of the game early in the second half.

Panama next face England in their final game of the tournament.

The Three Lions currently sit at the top of Group L with four points following a goalless draw with Ghana on Tuesday, in which Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu came on as a substitute in the 66th minute.

Ghana will play Croatia in their final group game with both sides bidding to finish in top spot.

Both matches kick off on Saturday at 22:00 BST.

The EFL will reveal its fixture list for the 2026-27 season on Thursday.

Want to know who your team will face on opening day? The fixtures will be announced at 12:00 BST - but that is not all.

The draws for the group stage of the Vertu Trophy and the first round of the Carabao Cup will also take place.

So check back on 25 June to see who your team faces first, last and everything in between.

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Leeds United are considering their legal options over a historic breach of Profit and Sustainability Rules by Leicester City.

The Yorkshire club were beaten to automatic promotion by Leicester in the 2023-24 season before going on to lose to Southampton in a Wembley play-off final.

Leicester were later charged with breaking spending rules.

A recent judgment has seen Everton ordered to pay Burnley £35m in compensation as a result of breaching spending rules. The Clarets argued the issue played a part in them being unable to avoid Premier League relegation when battling against Everton for survival in the 2021-22 campaign.

The Toffees have appealed the decision after stating the club was "surprised and angered" by the ruling.

Leeds are understood to be considering their position as to whether Leicester's rule breach hampered their own automatic promotion opportunity.

The Foxes declined to comment on the story.

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Russell Martin is the new Leicester City manager, charged with getting them back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

The 40-year-old has become the Foxes' third permanent manager in less than a year following their relegation to League One.

But after being sacked by both Southampton and Rangers, can Martin restore his own reputation while also reviving Leicester?

The club's supporters have been sending us their reaction to the appointment and here is a selection of their views:

Keith - We have to realise that we are a Third Division club and the board has done well to secure the services of someone with significant experience, so let's give him a chance. After all, who wanted Claudio Ranieri and look what happened then?

Steve - I don't think a single Leicester City fan wants Russell Martin to be our manager. In fact, I think if you had asked Leicester fans who we would least like to be the new manager, his name would have topped the list. Leicester City are in for a relegation battle in the coming season.

Simon - It's a strong appointment for League One and a logical one given that Leicester are likely to enjoy most of the possession in most games regardless of who is in charge. My main other thought is that, whatever happens early in the season, he needs to be given a good run and a chance to bed in his principles. Leicester have succumbed to fan pressure to sack managers early on multiple occasions in the past two years and it has given us relegation after relegation.

Paul - He wouldn't have been anywhere near my shortlist given his disastrous spell in the Premier League with Southampton or his short stay at Rangers. As supporters we must now get behind the team he is hopefully able to put together. He oversaw Southampton's promotion to the Prem, I see no reason he can't do the same for Leicester from League One.

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Neil - It is not just the manager, the players were our downfall last season. It all depends on who we bring in before the season starts. At the minute we don't have a striker and we didn't have one last season that was any good. A new season, a new team, and we'll just have to see what players Russell Martin can bring into the team.

Basil - I'll get behind him because there's no point dwelling on it, whatever we think of him. He'll need to show the humility that he hasn't shown anywhere else for the Leicester fans to get on board though, and that's my biggest worry.

Nick - I believe he will at least steady the ship and hopefully get us back into the Championship at the first time of asking. We fans must give him the chance! Too many people think the team deserves success, and has a right to be in the Prem. We don't, just get behind the new manager and the team, and see what happens.

Andy - Just shows you how out of touch the chairman is to appoint someone so unwanted by the fans.

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Russell Martin has become Leicester City's third permanent manager in less than a year.

The former MK Dons, Swansea City, Southampton and Rangers boss has signed a three-year contract, with the Foxes preparing for League One football after relegation from the Championship last season.

He won the Championship play-offs with Southampton in 2024 before being sacked four months into the Premier League campaign.

Martin's previous job at Rangers lasted only 123 days so can he be the man to rescue Leicester from English football's third tier?

Send us your thoughts here and check back later to read a selection of your views.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Jack Wilshere is committed to Luton despite rival interest in the Hatters head coach.

Wilshere joined the League One side in October and has helped stabilise the club after back-to-back relegations, leading them to within a point of the play-offs following an end-of-season run of six wins in seven.

He also led the side to the EFL Trophy in his first season in charge.

It is understood Wilshere was approached by Leicester in recent weeks following the departure of Gary Rowett in the wake of the Foxes' demotion to League One.

But it is also understood Wilshere prefers to stay at Luton and continue the work he has started.

It is also believed that Wilshere did not want to take another job in League One.

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Russell Martin has emerged as a potential candidate for the vacant managerial seat at Leicester City but while it is not a done deal, many have been quick to compare him to former head coach Enzo Maresca.

The Italian led the Foxes to the Championship title in 2024 with possession-based football but left after a season in charge to join Chelsea.

However, not everyone is convinced Martin would bring 'Marescaball' back to Leicester if he is appointed.

"I don't necessarily buy into the fact that Russell Martin and Enzo Maresca - because they get aligned and compared so much - are that similar managers," BBC Radio Leicester's Owynn Palmer-Atkin said.

"I would say that Russell Martin is a more extreme version of Enzo Maresca in terms of the way that he wants to play.

"Do Leicester City have the squad to be able to play that style of football? Possibly."

The Foxes have seen a huge turnover already with 10 players being released this summer, including captain Ricardo Pereira and the two main forwards, Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka.

"They still have an awful lot of players who will not want to play in League One this season and therefore there is going to be a lot more movement than we've already seen," Palmer-Atkin added.

"There's going to be a huge rebuild this summer for Leicester City and they have to get it right and part of the parcel of that is getting the right manager, with the right style, to build that around.

"This is not something that if they get wrong they can come back the following year and go again. They have to get it right this summer if they want to be the club that returns to the Championship and then very quickly returns to the Premier League."

Listen to Owynn Palmer-Atkin's full thoughts on the links with Martin on BBC Sounds

Listen to more Leicester City content on BBC Sounds

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We asked you for your opinion on the links between former Southampton and Rangers boss Russell Martin and the vacant managerial seat at Leicester City.

It's certainly got tongues wagging, that's for sure.

Here is a selection of what you had to say:

Enzo: Unfortunately we are now in the market for a manager with a blotted copybook. We just have to hope he's learnt from his mistakes and 'has a point to prove.' Specifically, there is more than one way to win a football match; respond to the conditions.

Pete: What an own goal. We've wasted weeks in appointing a manager when it was vital to get that done ASAP in May given the sheer amount of transfer business we need to do (10-20 players out and replaced).

Martin represents the opposite of what we need: a return to the ponderous, time wasting passing of Maresca that falls flat when you play someone as good as you. Should have sounded out Scott Parker and, if not, get Rowett in early doors as he knows the players already and could have been getting on with things weeks ago.

The club need to wake up and realise our true identity is about fearless positivity, urgency, passion and a never-say-die attitude, NOT an obsession with pass completion rates. We'll get behind whoever the manager is but Martin is a big disappointment.

Philip: A thought. What would be wrong with appointing Christian Fuchs as manager supported by a returning Jamie Vardy?

Think about it, Vardy wants to continue playing. So, supporting his former team in need of some serious inspiration, then go for a one-year player contract for Vardy working alongside his former team-mate Fuchs.

Robert: Russell Martin would be a sound appointment. He has an impressive background and he knows the style he wants to play.

More important, it indicates the board are aiming for a period of stability instead of quick-fix poor decisions, with the aim of getting back into the Premier League with one manager.

Alex: I have mixed opinions on Russell Martin, based on what other clubs' supporters think of him. If he has learnt from his time at Southampton and Rangers and is willing to change tactics, then I think he will succeed.

If he hasn't, then I think he'll struggle like at Rangers.

However, whoever it is needs backing strongly by the board. No more time wasting. Get the backroom staff sorted pronto and build a squad to compete for first place as soon as possible.

HJ: Russell would be an exciting choice. His style of play is far more positive than Gary, a defensive specialist. Avoiding financial mishaps, would a double promotion be too much to ask for?

Richard: The most important thing for the board right now is to rebuild trust across the club, fanbase and community and recreate the unity lost over the last three to four years.

Russell Martin is known to be unpopular among fans, regardless of any perceived technical merits, and so, for the board to ignore that and choose him, comes across as arrogant, threatening to fuel further division. Someone like Christian Fuchs or Richie Wellens would at least start with the fans onside.

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Former Rangers, Southampton and Swansea City boss Russell Martin has been strongly linked with the vacant manager's position at Leicester City.

The 40-year-old has been interviewed by the club's hierarchy, BBC Radio Leicester reports.

Martin won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs with Southampton in 2023-24 but was sacked the following season after one win in 16 games left Saints bottom of the table.

He was then fired after just 123 days in charge of Scottish Premiership giants Rangers in October 2025 with the club in eighth position after one win from their opening seven league games.

• Foxes fans, would you be happy with Martin coming in?

• If not, who would you prefer?

• If Martin does join, what are your expectations for the 2026-27 League One campaign?

Let us know your thoughts here and we will publish a selection of your responses later on.

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Leicester City defender Harry Souttar was in action at the weekend as preparations for the World Cup ramp up.

The Australia international captained the Socceroos for 82 minutes during their 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Saturday.

The 27-year-old missed most of the Championship season for the Foxes due to an Achilles injury but could feature for Australia once the World Cup begins on 11 June.

The centre-back was part of the 2022 squad, which equalled their best World Cup performance by reaching the last 16.

Australia are in Group D and will face Turkey, hosts USA and Paraguay.

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Leicester City duo Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu have been named in Ghana's squad for the World Cup, which starts next week.

Ayew, 34, will leave Leicester at the end of his contract this summer but will captain the Black Stars, who are in Group L along with England, Croatia and Panama.

The forward has made 119 appearances for Ghana, scoring 34 goals and played at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Fatawu, 22, is expected to feature as a winger at the tournament which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

He has scored three senior international goals for Ghana in 27 appearances.

They start their campaign against Panama on Thursday, 18 June.

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Leicester City defender Harry Souttar has been named in the Australia squad for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico which starts next week.

He managed only two games for Leicester last season because of a ruptured Achilles tendon which he sustained while on loan at Sheffield United in 2024.

The 27-year-old has already made 37 appearances for the Socceroos, scoring 11 goals, and featured for them at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where he started all four games as they were beaten in the last 16 by eventual tournament winners Argentina.

Souttar was born in Aberdeen but despite featuring for Scotland's under-17 team, he switched his allegiance to Australia in 2019.

Australia are in Group D for the tournament alongside Paraguay, Turkey and co-hosts, the USA. They start their campaign against Turkey on Sunday, 14 June.