Leicester City suffered relegation to League One last season, saying goodbye to a handful of players in the process – with one of those becoming the subject of interest already.
The Foxes saw a miserable 2025/26 campaign end in relegation to the third tier, ten years after they pulled off their infamous Premier League title triumph – and unsurprisingly it has led to them making several key decisions regarding their squad for next season.
Experienced players such as Ricardo Pereira, Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka were amongst a plethora of individuals saying goodbye to Leicester this summer, but it’s one of their Academy graduates that has become the latest player to attract interest.
Departing Leicester man attracting National League attention
With Leicester’s ongoing financial troubles and subsequent relegation, it should come as no surprise that they have let go of almost every out-of-contract player in a likely bid to free up as much funding as they can to begin the task of rebuilding once again.
However, one player that has been let go is Wales youth forward Chris Popov, in a decision that they may come to regret if he can pick up where he left off whilst out on loan last season.
According to BBC Teeside journalist Rob Law, Hartlepool United are interested in signing Popov on a free transfer this summer, following his impressive stint with relegated National League side Morecambe last time out.
The Welshman scored seven goals in 18 appearances for the struggling fifth-tier side last season, almost managing to help pull off an unlikely survival bid under Jim Bentley’s management.
Popov’s former teammate Jack Nolan has already swapped Morecambe for Hartlepool, with the forward potentially following suit and joining Lee Clark’s side this summer.
Hartlepool have already been linked with Halifax Town forward Will Harris, though he is currently involved in an ongoing contract dispute which may force the club to turn their attention onto other targets.
Meanwhile, journalist Pete O’Rourke has also reported that Hartlepool are closing in on a deal to sign Brighton Hove Albion defender Charlie Penman.
Will Leicester come to regret Popov decision?
Though question marks are likely to occur given he was impressing in the fifth tier whilst Leicester will be in the third tier next season, Popov has been ever-present for Wales at youth level and has finally managed to find his prolific scoring boots in his professional career.
At present, Leicester have allowed a lot of key names to depart and with their ongoing financial troubles/restrictions at present, they may be forced to turn to their Academy for depth next season, which is where Popov could have played a key role.
In recent seasons, the Foxes have overseen the rise of promising Academy stars such as Jeremy Monga, Kasey McAteer and Louis Page – suggesting that there is a pathway for their younger talent to break into the first team.
Though Popov has limited first-team experience so far, his run with the Shrimps suggests that there could be a prolific scoring nature to his game, and a move to Hartlepool in particular could allow him to rise up once again, hit double figures and be the subject of bigger transfer interest – thus earning the club a bigger fee.
With Leicester’s ongoing troubles, they could have made money from retaining Popov, whether it was a new contract and subsequent compensation/transfer fees coming their way, or if he were to score a handful of goals and benefit them on the pitch instead.
