Leicester City set to make decision on Ben Nelson future

Add as preferred source on Google

EFL Analysis can reveal what Leicester City’s plans are for highly-rated defender Ben Nelson.

The centre-back is one of the most exciting prospects from Leicester’s academy, and was expected to play a role in the first-team after impressing while out on loan at Oxford United.

Nelson was handed the number four shirt, indicating that he could feature heavily, but his only appearance has come in the Carabao Cup defeat against Huddersfield Town.

It has come as a surprise to many that an England Under-21 international cannot get a game, and details about his future have become clearer to EFL Analysis.

• READ MORE: Middlesbrough man told he should ‘take the plaudits’ for Rob Edwards success

Leicester City could loan Ben Nelson out in January

At this stage of Nelson’s career, the 21-year-old needs to play and as the season rumbles on, frustrations will only grow.

Our Chief Football Correspondent Graeme Bailey has told EFL Analysis that while the Foxes are desperate to keep the defender at the King Power Stadium, they could assess a loan move away for him in January.

His contract is up in June 2027, meaning there would be 18 months left until he could walk away for free, which seems difficult to comprehend after Chelsea were linked with Nelson over the summer.

Leicester City can’t let Ben Nelson go for free

As far as players go, there are not many with a higher ceiling than Nelson who have come through at Leicester.

Fans were first made aware of his talents when he was still a teenager and as someone who has been with a club ever since he was a youngster, Nelson represents everything fans want their club to be about.

There are still plenty of games to go in the season, and the situation could change, but the Foxes cannot let another talent walk away for nothing.