Leicester City could face a battle to keep one of their £33m star players

Leicester City could face a battle to keep one of their star players in the coming months.

It’s been an up-and-down start to the Premier League campaign for the Foxes, who return to action this weekend with a relegation six-pointer against Southampton.

Steve Cooper is expected to have a near-full-strength squad to select from as players return from the international break.

But the Leicester boss may face a new kind of problem as one league rival eyes up a move for one of his first-team regulars and could be the subject of bids in January.

• READ MORE: Who is Wout Faes? Step into the life of the Leicester City defender

Newcastle United want to sign Wout Faes

According to Caught Offside, Premier League giants Newcastle United want to bring Wout Faes to St James’ Park.

Faes has been an ever-present for the Foxes this season, featuring in all seven games and scoring in the 2-1 defeat away to Fulham.

The Belgian is 26 years old and valued at £33m, meaning that he wouldn’t be a cheap option for Eddie Howe as the Magpies look to bolster their centre-back options given that the contracts of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn expire next summer.

Newcastle may be hopeful that they can persuade Faes to join after the defender reportedly considered moving away from the Foxes in the summer, only to remain at the King Power Stadium.

Juventus are also rumoured to be interested, however, his price tag may have taken a hit after a difficult performance midweek for Belgium against France, in which he gave away a penalty.

Leicester City should cash in on Wout Faes

It might seem controversial to believe that Leicester should sell one of their first-choice players, but the Foxes could upgrade.

For all of his skills, the defender’s erratic style of play has often left Leicester in trouble at the back, whether it be misplaced passes, heavy touches, or just wandering out of position.

It seems that Leicester are in the market for a centre-back and have been linked with Steaua Bucharest’s Joyskim Dawa.

Caleb Okoli has also impressed after coming into the starting XI and there are two adequate replacements in Jannik Vestergaard and Conor Coady. Additionally, Ben Nelson, currently on loan at Oxford United, is also waiting in the wing and will become a first-team star.

Selling Faes would also recoup some much-needed funds that could be put towards a far better player and help in the quest to avoid relegation to the Championship.