What Leicester City may have to do in January transfer window with club in unusual position

Leicester City will go into the January transfer window in a couple of months’ time in a peculiar position: not needing any players.

Now, there may be fans out there that are desperate to see City strengthen up front, out wide, or in whichever position they feel is lacking. But it’s different to needing a signing.

Because actually, City are well-stocked in every position. They have at least two players for every role, and probably have a third man who can fill in too. They have a balanced squad.

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Usually, the January window is to correct imbalances. Maybe a deal fell through late in the summer to leave them short in a certain area. Maybe a player has suffered a serious injury, ruling them out for the remainder of the season.

City have been in that position in the past. In January this year, they were scrambling to get a deal done for Inter Milan’s Stefano Sensi because injuries and loan recalls had left them short on midfielders. They’ve loaned in centre-backs in the past when they’ve been short. But that’s not City right now, and provided they do not suffer any injuries over the next two months, it won’t be City in January.

So if City are to sign players in the winter window, they will be looking for those that can strengthen their squad. Usually, those kinds of deals wait until the summer as clubs are less willing to part with players during January, and so prices rise. Finding a player that will improve the starting line-up, is within budget, and will be let go by their current club is not easy in January.

In 2023, City did push the boat out. They signed Harry Souttar, Victor Kristiansen, and Tete. The signing of Kristiansen was in part because of James Justin’s serious injury, but otherwise these were deals conducted to strengthen City’s 11 and help them earn survival. They didn’t pay off.

In any case, City had not spent any money the previous summer as they looked to guard themselves against financial regulations. This past summer, their net spend exceeded £50m.

Now, it doesn’t mean City won’t do any business or won’t look for new signings in January, but those factors – the balanced squad and the summer spend – do make it far less likely. Where business is most likely to occur is if players leave.

That’s not to say City will be courting offers for their big-name players, but rather there may be those in the squad who are looking to leave for game-time. Maybe they assumed they would get a certain number of minutes in the first half of the season and those plans haven’t materialised.

Cooper and the club, in trying to keep the squad happy, may grant those players exits, on loan or permanently. But then replacements will be needed to ensure the balance remains.

With everybody fit, City have 25 outfield players in their senior training group. With goalkeepers taking two spots, only 18 can get into the matchday squad for any given fixture, and so there’s potential for seven players to be left disappointed. That’s assuming everybody on the bench is happy with their position, which may not be the case.

Cooper will be getting inklings from players already over who’s dissatisfied with their standing at the club and who is angling for a January switch. It’s the positions those players operate in that City’s scouting team need to be focusing on.

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