Leicester have been tipped for promotion next term. In fact, most bookies have them down as favourites to win the division. Looking at the latest football odds, City are available at 11/2 to win the title and just 6/4 for promotion.
Leeds United and Southampton – who were both relegated alongside Leicester last term – are also expected to be there or thereabouts in the hunt for promotion, while the likes of Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Watford and West Bromwich Albion are hoping to be in the mix.
The Championship is one of the toughest leagues in the world, and there are no guarantees in this division. Several big clubs missed out on the top six last term, as Luton Town won the play-offs. Leicester will need to be consistent all season long and have their fair share of luck along the way.
Leicester won the Premier League title in 2016, had a couple of spells in Europe and picked up the FA Cup for the first time in 2021. However, instead of kicking on and battling for the European spots in the Premier League, Leicester suffered a shock relegation from the top tier at the end of the 2022-23 season.
They made a woeful start under Brendan Rodgers, drawing with Brentford on the opening weekend before suffering six consecutive league defeats. They were rock bottom when they picked up their first victory of the season in October.
The Foxes looked to have turned their season around with five wins from eight games between October and November, but they collected just one point from a possible 15 after returning from the 2022 FIFA World Cup break.
City struggled for consistency and Rodgers left after a 2-1 reverse at Crystal Palace in April. Dean Smith arrived but failed to keep the Foxes in the Premier League. Despite a home win over West Ham United on the final weekend, results elsewhere saw Leicester lose their Premier League status.
Several big clubs have dropped down to the second division and struggled in the Championship in recent years. England’s second tier is regarded as one of the toughest leagues for a reason. The majority of the clubs are evenly matched, and most of the sides have top-six ambitions before a ball is kicked.
There is set to be a huge squad overhaul at Leicester this summer, with a whole host of players moving on. Several have left already, while the likes of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes are set to stay in the Premier League and move for big fees. Many new players are also expected to come through the door before the season gets underway.
The rebuilding process at the King Power Stadium has already begun, and Leicester do not plan on sticking around in the Championship for long. Can the Midlands outfit seal an instant return to the Premier League?
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