Why extending title winner’s deal provides a crucial European commodity for Leicester City – opinion

Brendan Rodgers has revealed that he is hoping to extend the deal of 33-year-old left back Christian Fuchs, with his current deal due to expire at the end of the season. The Austrian has revealed in the past that he plans to re-join his family in New York after his playing career, after helping to devise an esports arena there, along with ambitions to be an NFL kicker. But Rodgers’ intentions to put Fuchs’ retirement plans on hold could prove to be an incredibly astute move with the Foxes set to return to the Champions League next season.

Fuchs is one of the few members of Leicester City’s title-winning side remaining and therefore has experience playing in Europe’s most prestigious competition, when the Foxes reached the quarter-finals, before being knocked out by Atletico Madrid. The left back will almost certainly not be expected to feature as regularly as he did in either of those campaigns. However, having the 33-year-old’s experience of the competition, a tournament which Rodgers has never reached the knockout stages, will be a crucial commodity as Leicester look to go one further than in 2017.

Furthermore, there have been rumours that Leicester City and England’s first-choice left back, Ben Chilwell could be set to leave the King Power Stadium at the end of this campaign. Were he and Fuchs to go, the Foxes would be left without a natural left-sided defender in the squad, which would not only cause disruption amongst their defence but may lead to an enormous outlay in the transfer market as they attempt to fill the void.

Therefore, holding on to Fuchs, at the very least as an insurance option appears to be a shrewd move by Rodgers. With a more substantial fixture list, the manager will also be able to offer the 33-year-old more games than the seven Premier League appearances he has made this term. During which Fuchs has proven he is still top-flight material, averaging 1.5 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 2.5 clearances per match, via WhoScored. Providing he can convince him NFL kicking can wait another year, holding onto Fuchs for a second European adventure appears to be the most sensible course of action.