Leicester City January transfer window ins and outs amid three deals and four recalls
There are just a few days remaining in the January transfer window and Leicester City’s business has been limited to this point.
The winter market is a difficult one in which to buy a host of players, especially when there are continued concerns around Profit and Sustainability Rules. However, given the predicament City are in, more was expected.
For now, here’s a rundown of every deal done by City so far this month. They have until 11pm on Monday night to add to the list.
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In
Woyo Coulibaly (£3m, Parma)
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first, and so far only, recruit as City manager is French right-back Coulibaly. Signed to provide competition for James Justin amid Ricardo Pereira’s injury, the 25-year-old made his debut off the bench at Tottenham.
“He’s a strong, powerful player,” van Nistelrooy said. “He’s very good in one-v-one situations defensively. He’s good on the ball. He can play as a low right-back, he can play in the middle of the pitch, he can play high, so there’s flexibility there in our build-up.
“He has a physical profile that suits the Premier League. He’s an intelligent player and knows about how we want to play and the role of the full-back. It’s a good match.
“He’s a very good character. He’s hard-working. He’s also at an age where he’s at the start of the prime of his career. So we have high hopes for him to do well for us. It’s up to us to support him and make him feel at home so that he can perform immediately.”
Out
Tom Cannon (£10m, Sheffield United)
Recalled from Stoke after 11 goals in 25 games for the Potters, Cannon was then sold straight back to the Championship, and to promotion contenders Sheffield United. Fans will feel he wasn’t given a fair chance to prove himself at City, but the club have at least made a profit on him, selling the £7.5m signing in a deal that could eventually be worth £13m.
Hamza Choudhury (loan, Sheffield United)
No longer needed as cover at right-back, and down to fifth-choice in the midfield pecking order, Choudhury has joined the Blades on loan until the end of the season in the hope of getting more game-time. There is an option for a permanent deal in the loan contract.
Recalled
Harry Souttar (recalled from loan, Sheffield United)
Coming back the other way from Bramall Lane is centre-back Souttar. He ruptured his Achilles in December and has been ruled out for the season, and so is back at City for treatment.
Sammy Braybrooke (recalled from loan, Dundee)
The 20-year-old midfielder had not started in the Scottish Premiership since September and was an unused substitute in eight of the nine Dundee league games before he was recalled. He’s back at City and is set to stay put between now and the end of the season.
Brandon Cover (recalled from loan, Port Vale)
He really impressed in the right-wing-back position for the League Two promotion challengers, but a slight dip in form, plus the return of a previously-injured player means his game-time could have been limited in the second half of the season. It was City’s decision to recall him.
Amani Richards (recalled from loan, Exeter)
The winger made a bright start but quickly found himself out of favour. He’s now back at City after making just one substitute appearance for the Grecians across November and December.
