Enzo Maresca identifies a stumbling block to Leicester City’s January recruitment plans

admin | December 8, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

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 on where they might strengthen to boost their promotion attempt in the second half of the season. However, achieving such goals will not be easy.

As things stand, all 25 spots in City’s squad are taken, thus if a player aged 21 or above 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.

“We have ideas about January, but, as you know, our squad is full,” Maresca stated 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 stated, there are undoubtedly guys who aren’t completely satisfied because they work every day to obtain minutes and don’t receive them. “We are waiting.”

A left-sided defender is likely to be high on City’s priority list, with Maresca recently stating that it is the only position in his team where he does not have two players available. James Justin is coming in for Callum Doyle, who is sidelined, although Maresca believes he is better on the right side, where a naturally left-footed player is preferable.

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 partly due to Dennis Praet’s major back injury. Although the Belgian midfielder is again fit, City may yet try to strengthen their midfield.

Patson Daka and Daniel Iversen are the leading contenders 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.