LEICESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: A general view of the outside of the stadium prior to the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers at The King Power Stadium on February 28, 2023 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
The manager has plans for the window when it opens next month, but it won’t be easy with City already at full strength in their registered squad.
Leicester City have ideas for the January transfer window, but their ability to implement them is contingent on players leaving the club.
City manager Enzo Maresca has stated that “there is always room to improve” the squad, and talks have taken place between him and the recruitment team about where they can strengthen to boost their promotion bid in the second half of the season. However, achieving those goals will not be easy.
As things stand, all 25 spots in City’s squad are taken, so if a player aged 21 or over was signed on a permanent deal, or if a player of any age was loaned in, someone has to leave. Otherwise, someone will spend the second half of the season on the bench, unable to play.
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“We have ideas about January, but, as you know, our squad is full,” Maresca said in a statement. “So, even if we wanted to buy or loan players, we couldn’t because we have a full squad right now.”
“So we have to see how many players leave.” As we’ve always said, there are probably players who aren’t completely satisfied because they work every day to get minutes and don’t get them. “We are waiting.”
A left-sided defender is likely to be high on City’s priority list, with Maresca previously stating that it is the only position in his team where he does not have two players available. James Justin is filling in for Callum Doyle, who is injured, but Maresca believes he is better on the right side, where a naturally left-footed player is preferred.
In the final week of the summer transfer window, City sought a midfielder and came close to signing James McAtee on loan from Manchester City. This was largely due to Dennis Praet’s serious back injury. Although the Belgian midfielder is now fit, City may still look to strengthen their midfield.
Patson Daka and Daniel Iversen are the leading candidates to leave, with Danny Ward and Harry Souttar also potentially leaving. Souttar, on the other hand, has stated that he intends to stay and fight for his position.
