Nathan Opoku, Lewis Brunt, Victor Kristiansen, Luke Thomas, Boubakary Soumare and Zach Booth following their loan moves from Leicester City in the summer.
Luke Thomas made his debut for Sheffield United in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Everton
Good start… Luke Thomas on loan at Sheffield United
When Leicester City were in the Premier League, most of the players they got on loan were from their academy and came through the Football League to get their first or second taste of senior football. If they develop well, they could better break into City’s first team.
But that is not true now. City’s best players – the likes of Ben Nelson, Kasey McAteer and Wanya Marcal – went straight into Enzo Maresca’s squad, none of whom had played football above League Two, so City signed just six players this summer, half of them seniors stars which did not fit into the plans of the new manager. But some players are hoping to show City what they can do in their temporary homes in the hope of one day becoming a regular in blue. So there goes half a dozen.
Nathan Opoku
Returning to OH Leuven for another spell, Opoku picked up where he left off. After scoring in the last three games of last season, he scored in the first game of the campaign, in a 1-1 draw, before scoring his next goal in a 2-1 defeat a week later.
He has been injured for the last two games, during which Leuven finally got their first win of the season, but the forward’s pace and goal threat will see him back in the lineup if he is fit. Lewis Brunt
Three games in, Brunt is doing quite well at Mansfield in League Two. He helped secure a 3–2 win on his debut and was then part of the Stags side that clinched the Carabao Cup title with an upset at Sheffield Wednesday, playing the entire game.
With this, he got his first career in the league, the central defender again played a full 90 and also kept the game clean, the match against Bradford ended without a goal. Reports from fans say he was solid in defense and looked good on the ball.
With no place for traditional full-backs in the City 11, Kristiansen left just seven months after arriving. Although his contract with Bologna is only a loan at the moment, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he continues as he did in his debut if they add a buyout clause to the deal.
The Dane made it one goal after 90 minutes, winning a penalty with a handball cross and then forcing a late winner when his shot was struck, allowing a teammate to rebound. It gave Bologna their first win of the season and won 20 years of rave reviews.
Luke Thomas
Another left back to leave in the final week of the window was Thomas and he also received a good response on his Sheffield United debut.
The Syston boy played the last 25 minutes of the Blades’ 2-2 draw with Everton. He advanced well from full-back and narrowly scored. Sheffield United fans called for him to start their next game.
It looked like the season could see City see Booth at under-21 level when the American youngster started and scored in the first Premier League 2 match of the season. But he is going to the Netherlands, where his brother Taylor, a full-time American player, plays for Utrecht to get a taste of senior football with FC Volendam.
He hopes to make his debut when they face Fortuna Sittard next weekend and will be hoping to help Volendam get their first point of the season.
Boubakary Soumare
After two difficult years at City, the move to Sevilla is very good for Soumare and means he will be playing Champions League football this season, with the Europa League winners drawn in a group with Arsenal, PSV and Papy Mendy’s Lens. Heavy rain prevented his debut against Atletico Madrid, the game was abandoned, so he hopes to play against Las Palmas next weekend.
Sevilla are looking for their first point after losing their first three La Liga matches.
