Good Evans! He could be the heir to a City legend

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16 May 2025 - Leicester Mercury

TEEN STRIKER TIPPED AS A LEICESTER City’s number nine shirt will bear JamieVardy’s name for the final time this weekend, and the search for his successor should already be under way, writes Jordan Blackwell.

Beyond ensuring they have the right manager in place, the biggest task City face this summer is finding a new striker who can deliver goals.

It does not seem that Patson Daka, for all his effort, will be able to deliver the consistency and level of finishing quality that City need up front. He may leave this summer too.

Jordan Ayew may stay, and he could play at the top of the pitch, but he would be a target man to build off, not a goal-getter.

But what about Jake Evans? If there’s an heir to Vardy’s throne inside the club, the 16-year-old, left, feels the most worthy of such a grand title.

But it would also feel unfair to put that weight on the shoulders of someone so young.

Certainly, Evans is not yet in a position where the onus of being the club’s leading goalscorer should be placed on him.

But in the future? Maybe. The signs are promising.

Since Premier League 2 was established in 2016 for under-21s sides, no 16-year-old at any club has scored as many goals as Evans has this season, with 11 in 13 starts.

He’s not even been a striker for much of the season. Instead, he’s spent most of the campaign cutting in from the right wing onto his favoured left foot.

That brings about an interesting dilemma. Going into next season, City look well-stocked for wingers.

Abdul Fatawu will be fit again, Stephy Mavididi and Kasey McAteer are expected to stay, Will Alves is returning to the club, and Jeremy Monga may remain too.

Out wide, the competition is high, and so the chances of Evans getting game time may perhaps suffer.

But up front, there could be nobody else until signings are made. It looks like there will be more opportunities for Evans there.

It could be argued then that Evans should be trained up as a striker, helping him to hone the nuances of the position, because that’s what City truly need.

But for manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, that’s not what should be done.

The City boss said: “When you’re 16 years of age and you have the possibility to play in different positions, I think you don’t have to make a decision now over whether he’s going to be a winger or a striker.”