“Even if he plays in the English second division next year, he will remain eligible”- Good news as Leicester receive Huge boost in bid to keep Defender next season after assurances from National Team boss
The centre-back has been the subject of talk from pundits in his home country who have said he needs to leave the King Power Stadium to keep his place in the national team
Wout Faes has been given assurances by Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco that he would not lose his place in the national squad if he stayed with Leicester City in the Championship.
City were relegated with four Belgians in their squad, and with Youri Tielemans already leaving on a free transfer to join Aston Villa, with Timothy Castagne hoping to join a “top club”, and with Dennis Praet set to leave too, there has been talk over Faes’ future in the country.
With the centre-back now established in Belgium’s starting 11, pundits there have said he needs to leave to find top-flight football again.
But that view is not shared by Tedesco. He said that Faes will not lose his qualities should he play in the Championship for a year, and he would still be considered for selection as the country prepare for Euro 2024 next summer.
Faes, having established himself as a starter in the March international break, was in the 11 on Saturday night as Belgium drew 1-1 with Austria in a qualifier.
“The fact that four players have been relegated has not been an issue at this camp,” Tedesco said ahead of the game. “Even if Wout Faes plays in the English second division next year, he will remain eligible. He will not lose his qualities.”
Faes signed for £15m from Reims last summer as a replacement for Wesley Fofana, and so is on a long contract at the King Power Stadium, running to 2027.
City may be reluctant to part with him because of their shortage of centre-backs, with Caglar Soyuncu and Daniel Amartey leaving on free transfers, with Jannik Vestergaard also set to go and with no guarantee Jonny Evans will sign a new deal. The only other senior centre-back under contract is Harry Souttar.
Faes had a mixed season for City, and did not escape criticism for his role in their relegation. While he made an immediate impact upon his arrival from Reims, he had a torrid time between the World Cup and the March international break, consistently making mistakes and rash judgements.
He improved again late in the campaign, when paired with Soyuncu under Dean Smith.
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