Two January transfer priorities emerge as Leicester City dissected – but only one deal likely
When considering those who were sold, released, loaned out or returned to their parent clubs, Leicester City said goodbye to 10 players over the summer. In response, they made nine signings and promoted one youngster to the first team.
So the number of players Steve Cooper has to work with is the same as Enzo Maresca had. But what about the balance of the squad? Do the 29 players available to the new boss give City good coverage in every area of the pitch?
We have gone through each position to assess the depth in City’s squad. You can tell us your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
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Goalkeepers
Mads Hermansen, Jakub Stolarczyk, Danny Ward, Daniel Iversen
Pleasingly, the transfer window closed without Chelsea or any other side trying to poach Mads Hermansen from the King Power Stadium. On top of that, the Dane, after his impressive maiden campaign at the club, does not look out of place as a Premier League number one.
A reliable first-choice option puts City in a strong position in the goalkeeping department, while Jakub Stolarczyk showed himself to be an able deputy last season. When he’s back from injury, City will be well-set between the sticks.
With Danny Ward and Daniel Iversen not moving on, City have plenty of senior options. However, neither’s reputation has yet recovered from the relegation campaign, and supporters are a little on edge that City are only an injury to Hermansen away from either stepping into the fold.
Depth rating: 4/5
Centre-backs
Jannik Vestergaard, Wout Faes, Conor Coady, Caleb Okoli
For a long time, this was City’s strongest position, with dependable centre-backs unable to get minutes because of the competition for a starting spot. Whether that’s still the case is uncertain.
Certainly, City have good quality at the back. Given how Jannik Vestergaard and Wout Faes performed last season, given Conor Coady’s reputation, and given how Caleb Okoli fared on his debut, fans would be happy with any of the four being selected as part of City’s back-line.
However, there is not the depth beyond that. Harry Souttar left on loan, and then City, for the good of the player’s future rather than perhaps the current squad’s strength, let Ben Nelson get game-time at Oxford.
Depth rating: 4/5
Full-backs
Ricardo Pereira, James Justin, Victor Kristiansen, Luke Thomas
The omission of Ricardo Pereira from City’s starting line-up over the first few weeks of the season has been a big talking point. The absence of such a high-quality player from the 11 would suggest City have excellent depth in the full-back area, but that’s probably not quite the case.
City do have two options at both right-back and left-back, and they have four players who have all done well in spells in a top league before. But Victor Kristiansen, the starter at left-back for now, still has a little way to go to convince supporters he’s ready to hold that position for the foreseeable future, while his deputy Luke Thomas struggled in the Premier League last season with Sheffield United.
On the right, James Justin’s performance have been in focus because he’s being selected over Ricardo. A difficult afternoon at Fulham means there’s a few fans he needs to win over too.
While supporters may still feel a new striker is the transfer priority for when January rolls around, it may be instead that City look for a new full-back. The quartet’s performances over the next few months will determine how keen the club will be to do a deal in the new year.
Depth rating: 3/5
Deep midfielders
Harry Winks, Wilfred Ndidi, Boubakary Soumare, Hamza Choudhury, Oliver Skipp
With Oliver Skipp arriving and Boubakary Soumare staying put, City have five options for two spaces at the base of the midfield. That’s a good amount.
The early signs suggest Skipp will be able to build a strong partnership with former Tottenham team-mate Harry Winks, their qualities enabling City to retain possession well while also getting stuck in and connecting with the attack. Wilfred Ndidi and Hamza Choudhury offer high-energy options perhaps better suited to breaking up play, albeit both did improve on the ball under Maresca last term.
Soumare is the interesting case. At his best, he offers dynamism, strength and excellent ball-carrying, but while he shows that in training, he’s only ever offered it in flashes in competitive matches. If Cooper can draw more consistent performances from the Frenchman, then City have a really strong group in deep midfield.
Depth rating: 4/5
Attacking midfielders
Facundo Buonanotte, Bilal El Khannouss, Will Alves, Michael Golding
This is where City’s transfer business made the biggest difference. They may have lost Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, but they brought in two players in Facundo Buonanotte and Bilal El Khannouss who have not only brought excitement to City supporters, but who both will feel deserving of a start.
Buonanotte has already shown what he’s about, his quick feet and link-up play thrilling supporters, while El Khannouss comes highly-rated for his vision and progressive passing. With promising but inexperienced youngster Will Alves available too, City have three players for one position who fans would be happy to see in the team, while several of those who operate out wide can also fill in if required.
City are now well-stocked in the number 10 spot. If Buonanotte and El Khannouss in particular perform well over the next couple of months, this could quite quickly become City’s strongest position.
Depth rating: 4/5
Wingers
Stephy Mavididi, Abdul Fatawu, Kasey McAteer, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Jordan Ayew
What’s perhaps most pleasing about City’s wide options is the variety in styles of play. Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi are at their best when one-on-one with their full-backs. Kasey McAteer is a runner capable of getting into good positions inside the box. New signings Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Jordan Ayew bring experience, with the former known at Fulham for popping up with clutch goals, and the latter excellent at getting the ball up the pitch, winning free-kicks and relieving pressure.
The question mark is whether they will all be able to deliver in the Premier League consistently. Fatawu and McAteer are stepping into their first true top-flight campaigns, and while Mavididi played in Ligue 1, it’s his first year in the Premier League too. De Cordova-Reid and Ayew are the wrong side of 30, and were not starters at Fulham and Crystal Palace.
Depth rating: 4/5
Strikers
Jamie Vardy, Odsonne Edouard, Patson Daka
This would have comfortably been City’s weakest position if not for the deadline-day signing of Odsonne Edouard. It still might be.
Edouard certainly gives City a boost up front, the Frenchman having played in the Premier League for a few years and so a player who should not need too much time to get up and running. But while he banged in goals at Celtic, finding the net has been more difficult since coming south of the border.
Jamie Vardy will remain the main man up front, and while he’s made a promising start to the campaign, the doubts over his age – he turns 38 in January – won’t go away. For Patson Daka, injured right now, the doubts are over whether he can perform at the level.
For a position in which only one player is likely to be selected, City have enough options, especially with Ayew capable of leading the line too. Whether they have the variety and quality needed to fire them to safety is debatable. Fans want that addressed in January but with Vardy on a star striker's wages, it may not be possible to bring in a marquee signing up top, leaving full-back as the only area strengthened.
Depth rating: 3/5