Caglar Soyuncu set to play Champions League football next season after transfer pre-agreement

Caglar Soyuncu is set to leave Premier League strugglers Leicester City at the end of the season, according to reports.

The 26-year-old defender, who joined The Foxes from German side SC Freiburg in 2018 for £18 million, enjoyed a bright start to his Leicester career.

He was a regular under Brendan Rodgers during his early reign and a number of top European clubs reportedly expressed an interesting in signing Soyuncu, including Juventus and Inter Milan.

But the Turkey international has struggled for first-team minutes this season, making just six appearances for Leicester in all competitions.

After a poor season, the defender is expected to sign a pre-agreement with La Liga side Atletico Madrid at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, according to The Athletic, meaning he will likely play Champions League football next season.

Last month, former boss Brendan Rodgers was asked if there was a route back into the Leicester team for Soyuncu, who is out of contract at the season.

“Yes, by training at the highest level," he said. "It’s been a real difficult one for him because I think he’s probably thought his future is away from here.

“Everything about him in terms of his behaviour and everything else has been fine but I’ve sensed that he thought he was moving on.

"I judge in training because you can’t be switched off from training and think you can just come back into the Premier League. It just doesn’t happen."

Rodgers added: “It was for those same reasons why I put him in the team. When I first came in he wasn’t in the squad but I could see that desire, commitment and quality in training, so when we lost Harry (Maguire) and the talk was about who we’re going to get in, I had seen him in training and thought this guy deserves a chance.

“He came in and in that first season he was excellent. But like I’ve said before, it’s about consistency in performance and mentality. He’s a great guy who has slipped from his level for a number of reasons.

“Any player if they’re performing to a level in training, they will always get the opportunity. If not, it’s very difficult. You can’t just click your fingers, not train well and not be at your best level and then be thrown into a Premier League game.”

New Leicester boss Dean Smith has handed Soyuncu starts in his opening two games as manager but it appears his career at the King Power is all but over.

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