Brendan Rodgers has compared Wesley Fofana’s importance at Leicester to Virgil van Dijk’s at Liverpool.
Liverpool relinquished their 2019/2020 Premier League title last term after superb Dutch stopper Van Dijk was out for nine months with a knee injury.
Leicester, who are 12th, have also struggled this season without their brilliant young French defender Fofana.
But City have shown how much they rate the starlet, 21, by tying him down on a new five-year deal on Monday despite Fofana being yet to play this term.
Fofana, signed from St Etienne in October 2020 for £30million, sustained a broken leg in pre-season.
But he returned to training last month and is pushing to play in the Foxes’ Europa Conference League clash at home to Rennes on Thursday.
King Power boss Rodgers assessed: “It just brings the team to a new dimension.
“This is a top player, no question, at a top level.
"I've worked with lots of top talents who have gone on to become top professionals, but I've got absolutely no doubt in this boy.
"When he came out of the team, with all due respect, it was a massive loss for us because of the nature of how we play, defending forward, anticipating, speed, but also mentality.
"The other guys have filled in manfully and done the best they can, but you've seen with the likes of Liverpool when they are missing Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip.
"I watch Wesley out my window virtually every day, doing his recovery and rehabilitation.
“The other day he was doing an individual defending session with Kolo Toure and just seeing his physicality, his anticipation and reading of the game - this is a boy that is top level.
"When we have him back in, then it's another dimension to the team back again and a step back towards where we want to go.
“You watch the top level of the game, it's that devilment.
“They can be the nicest guys in the world but on the field they have an edge, and Wesley has that.”
Leicester have tied Fofana down until 2027 after recently also getting James Justin to put pen to paper following his return from a long-term injury too.
Fofana, who won the FA Cup with Leicester last season, said: “I’m really happy to sign a new contract.
“It shows the club have confidence in me offering me a contract to 2027.
“I’m really happy to be here and really looking forward to being back playing.
“We also have a great team and are continuing to progress, with a desire to win more trophies.
“I want to achieve more with the club. There is a lot of talent here and still a lot more we can do together.”
