Leicester City's pre-season plans outlined as doubts cast over transfer for long-time target

Leicester City are planning an overseas training camp and six friendlies over the course of the summer as Brendan Rodgers hopes a rigorous pre-season will lead to a strong start to the new campaign.

City are due to return to their Seagrave training base in the final week of June for the first of six weeks leading up to the Premier League’s opening weekend. The season has shifted forward a week this August to accommodate the World Cup during November and December.

As usual, the return of City players will be staggered, with those currently on international duty afforded more time for rest and recovery. During the first fortnight of pre-season, City will play the first of their summer fixtures but this will be behind closed doors.

City will then head abroad for an overseas camp, their first since before the Covid-19 pandemic, with Evian on Lake Geneva the likely destination, with the club having spent time during a couple of previous summers. On their way back, they will stop off in Belgium for their first public friendly against sister side OH Leuven on Saturday, July 16. That is the only pre-season fixture so far confirmed by the club. Get more details on City's pre-season plans here.

Leicester City’s lack of European football is likely to put them at the back of the queue for the signature of Club Brugge attacker Charles De Ketelaere.

City have long been named as a suitor for the Belgian international, but after failing to qualify for a European competition for next season, reports in the 21-year-old’s home country suggest a switch to the King Power Stadium has all but been ruled out. De Ketelaere has more attractive options, they say.

The player’s ideal new club is an “absolute top team” who can offer Champions