Marc Albrighton remains the clearest example. Released by Aston Villa, the winger joined Leicester after their promotion to the Premier League and became a key figure across one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
He left after 313 appearances, having collected a Premier League title, FA Cup, Community Shield and Championship winners’ medal. His value came through consistency, work rate and tactical reliability rather than headline cost.
Christian Fuchs followed a similar path after leaving Schalke. The Austrian left-back became a regular during the 2015-16 title-winning season and later helped Ben Chilwell develop into an important first-team option.
Leicester’s strongest free-agent deals have not all been long-term successes. Some supplied immediate quality at a crucial moment.
David Nugent, signed from Portsmouth in 2011, scored 59 goals in 180 appearances and produced Championship returns of 15, 14 and 20 before contributing to Premier League survival.
Esteban Cambiasso offered leadership after arriving from Inter in 2014, earning the club’s Player of the Year award during a survival campaign. Kevin Phillips also made a decisive impact during the 2013-14 promotion push, despite joining midway through the season.
Those examples underline the central lesson: Leicester have benefited when free agents filled a clear sporting need, rather than simply adding familiar names.
Ings would represent experience and proven attacking quality, while Chaplin could offer energy and a sharper edge in the final third. Their potential signings would also give Martin a foundation built around players accustomed to pressure.
Neither deal is confirmed, and Leicester have also been linked with Archie Collins, Alex McCarthy and Mikael Mandron. The next transfer window storyline is whether Ings and Chaplin become the opening pieces of another successful free-agent cycle-or merely the first names in a broader rebuild.