Wesley Fofana will once again miss out when Leicester City travel to Chelsea on Saturday. The official reason is “personal leave,” amid a transfer saga that continues to rage on. Fofana will continue training with the U23s, as he wants to join Chelsea as soon as possible.
However, the club do not wish to part ways with him, and they are said to be holding out for a world record fee for a defender. Asked when Fofana be selected again, Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers responded: “Once the window closes things will be clearer.” What a mess! Okay with that out of the way, let’s look at the rest of the team news, for both sides, in this match.
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Update: Chelsea have been drawn into Group E for the UCL, along with Milan, Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb.
Chelsea vs Leicester City FYIs
Kickoff: Sat. Aug 27, 3pm, Stamford Bridge
Chelsea Starting XI Prediction: go here
After Extra Time Podcast: Spotify Apple
PL Position: Chelsea 12th, 4pts Leicester City 19th, 1pts
Form Guide: Chelsea LDW Leicester City LLD
Google Result Probability: Chelsea 68% Leicester City 19% Draw 13%
Team News for Both Sides
Chelsea will be without the services of several key players: N’Golo Kante (hamstring), Kalidou Koulibaly (suspension), Mateo Kovacic (knee) and Marcos Alonso (undisclosed, but given all the transfer rumors swirling around him, probably another “personal leave.” Armando Broja, for an undisclosed reason, is a doubt here.
Also out for Leicester, in addition to Fofana, are Ricardo Pereira (achilles), Ryan Bertrand (knee).
Prediction: Chelsea FC 1, Leicester City 0
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Bank (TheSportsBank.Net) and author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” as well as “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune, and he co-hosts the After Extra Time podcast, part of Edge of the Crowd Network. Follow him and the website on Twitter and Instagram.