Seven centre-backs Leicester City could sign to solve biggest problem

After conceding a late equaliser at Notts County last week, fortunately escaping defeat, Leicester gifted Burton a two-goal lead inside the opening 25 minutes on Saturday. The first goal was played too easily for Matthew Dennis to score, but the second encapsulated the defensive fragility with Caleb Okoli's poor defending resulting in Kgaogelo Chauke to double their lead.

With Ben Nelson out with a long-term knee injury and Wout Faes not being selected due to transfer interest, City are in desperate need for new defenders. Brutally speaking, they need to sign two, at least.

Martin has confirmed that the position is a priority for the club, with the Foxes boss revealing after yesterday's defeat that "three or four" more players could come in before the window shuts. Loans have been ruled out by Martin, with experience, short-term and long-term solutions the thinking behind their recruitment.

But finding a defender who ticks both boxes is set to be difficult. However, signing experience and a potential centre-back for years to come in two different players is something that works and there are options.

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To get it, it's a simple one-two punch.

Martin has highlighted how important it is for the club to bring in players who have been there and done that. Darragh Lenihan is still without a club after leaving Middlesbrough and could be a defender they consider.

The 32-year-old played over 230 times for Blackburn Rovers before spending four years at Boro. He has made just 12 appearances across the last three seasons, but he would bring a defensive soundness to a fractured backline.

Another free agent available, and perhaps one that City fans are somewhat fearing, is Craig Dawson. The 36-year-old is a short-term option and has been out of football since leaving Wolves in 2025, but he is a player Leicester have been linked with before.

Back when they were in the Premier League, a late move for the former West Ham star was tipped as part of a swap deal that included Conor Coady returning to Wolves. The deal never happened and he left Wolves that summer.

Experience means 'the knowledge, skill or practical wisdom that you get from doing, seeing, or feeling things over time'. Dawson has that from more than 300 Premier League appearances and 142 more in the EFL.

Kortney Hause and Willy Boly are two other defenders currently without clubs. Hause, 31, left Aston Villa in 2025 and was linked with a move to the Championship last season, but his last competitive game came in 2023. He played his first recorded game since 2023 for Villa in April last year in the Birmingham Senior Cup.

Boly, formerly of Nottingham Forest and Wolves, was playing in the Premier League last season and is well-respected in the game. He's been mentioned as a potential target for West Ham, but a move to the capital has been played down recently. He brings experience, but a lack of pace.

On to the 'long-term' options and it would not be a list of potential centre-back targets at Seagrave without mentioning Mark McGuinness. The Sheffield United defender is still expected to leave the Championship club this summer, despite starting their first three games of the season, with Chris Wilder publicly stating that he isn't in his plans.

He previously cost United a then-League One record, which has been blown out of the water with Abdul Fatawu and Jeremy Monga's exit this summer, but is yet to establish himself as a regular in Sheffield. The Republic of Ireland international has played in the Championship and League One, and at only 25, would fill the role as a long-term solution.

Leicester need experience, but they also need a defender who can become part of the next team. McGuinness potentially gives them both.

John Souttar is another name that automatically comes into the thinking when discussing centre-back options. The Scotland international, brother of Harry, hasn't been used by Rangers this season and has been linked with a move away from Ibrox all summer.

Reports at the start of the month had suggested that City were in pole position to sign Souttar, but a move hasn't advanced yet. Martin worked with the 29-year-old in Scotland and he would be the sort of profile that would make sense in fitting the style of play.

Last season, Souttar completed 90.5% of his passes in the Scottish Premiership. Leicester need a defender who is comfortable in possession with quality when defending and Souttar is that.

Now on to some wildcard alternatives and perhaps players that Leicester would be taking a risk on. Colchester United's Jack Tucker has had a fine start to the season in League Two, helping them collect four points from a possible six.

With a pass success rate of 82.8%, the former MK Dons defender has been among the best performers for defensive contributions and clearances in the fourth-tier. Tucker has also ranked in the 96th percentile for touches of defenders in League Two.

He has one year left on his deal and is represented by the same agency, Unique Sports Group, that work with Jake Evans, Tommy Watson, Jordan James and Marti Cifuentes - they also deal with Dawson and McGuinness.