New Leicester boss Enzo Maresca could find the answer to the club’s exodus in the academy with Amani Richards ready to carry his explosive under-18s form into next season.
The 18-year-old joined the Foxes from Arsenal ’s academy 19 months ago. Not only has impressed behind the scenes with his output and his attitude, he was named Leicester ’s Academy Player of the Year last month, having been the top scorer at any level at the club.
He managed more than 20 goals and assists and - with just a year left on his contract - has attracted interest from Newcastle, West Ham and Brentford.
But Richards is understood to be determined to make a breakthrough at the King Power. He has already returned from his summer break early to implement a training regime that he hopes will leave him in shape for Maresca’s pre-season plans.
In turn Maresca, a teenage midfielder himself during a spell at West Brom between 1998 and 2000, is keen to develop young players having previously been under-23s boss under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Seven players - Youri Tielemans, Caglar Soyuncu, Daniel Amartey, Nampalys Mendy, Ryan Bertrand, Ayoze Perez and Tete - are already set to leave Leicester following their relegation. Maresca intends to reshape the underachievers into a younger, more vibrant attacking outfit as he aims for promotion at the first attempt.
Richards is following the example of another rising star, stablemate Garang Kuol, in cutting his summer holidays short to prepare for the new campaign. World Cup star Kuol, who impressed for Australia in Qatar, wants to hit the ground running at Newcastle next season.
The exciting 18-year-old forward - born to South Sudanese parents - has headed out to Italy for a training camp before the Magpies pre-season officially begins. Both he and Richards are part of Premier Sports Talent.
Kuol established himself as Australia’s biggest young prospect before winning even more admirers at the World Cup.
His substitute appearance in their round of sixteen defeat to eventual winners Argentina made him the youngest player to feature in a World Cup knockout match since Pele at the 1958 World Cup. Kuol went on to spend the rest of the season on loan at Hearts in Scotland.
He officially joined Newcastle in January after they snapped him up from Central Coast Mariners.
Newcastle's pre-season programme starts with away games at Gateshead and Rangers before they head to America for the Premier League Series, where they will face Aston Villa, Chelsea and Brighton.
