Football
Exclusive: Burnley and Everton Join Race to Sign Leicester Defender Conor Coady
Burnley and Everton are both interested in signing Leicester City defender Conor Coady, who prefers to stay in the Premier League. Leicester is open to selling him to avoid losing him on a free transfer next summer. Coady had a successful loan spell at Everton and is open to a return. Other big names are expected to leave Leicester following their relegation.
Liverpool FC v Leicester City FC - Premier League by Copa | Getty Images
Burnley and Everton have both joined the battle to sign Leicester City defender Conor Coady, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The 32-year-old former England international is wanted by Rangers, but SportsBoom understands Coady would prefer to stay in the Premier League.
And our sources understand the Foxes are happy for former Liverpool man to leave if the price is right.
The club suffered a heartbreaking relegation to the Championship last season and know Coady wants to leave to extend his stay at the top level.
He has one year left on his contract at the King Power Stadium and the club are hoping to cash in on the 10-cap England international before he leaves on a free transfer next summer.
The club have been exploring offering Coady a new deal to stay, but the former Sheffield United, Huddersfield and Wolves ace is understandably hungry to continue playing in the Premier League.
LOAN SPELL
He enjoyed a successful loan spell with Everton in the 2022-23 season and is believed to be open to a return to Merseyside, where he started his career with Liverpool way back in 2011.
Coady signed for Leicester on a three-year deal worth £7.5million in July 2023 and played in the triumphant 2023-24 Premier League promotion-winning side.
But last season was a season to forget as the Foxes were dumped out of the top flight and a number of big names are now expected to leave this summer because they have no ambition to play in the second tier.
Veteran striker Jamie Vardy is definitely leaving, while keeper Danny Ward is also out of contract and expected out of the exit door.
Scottish outfit Rangers are understood to be lining up a bid for the player, but SportsBoom has heard that both Burnley, promoted back to the Premier League, and the Toffees are keen to sign Coady, especially because of his six years of experience in the top-flight.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.