Ruud van Nistelrooy casts doubt over Leicester City transfer exit but confirms loan move
Ruud van Nistelrooy has ruled out selling Luke Thomas before Monday’s transfer deadline unless new players arrive.
The homegrown left-back has been linked with a move to Bundesliga side Hoffenheim over the past couple of weeks amid limited game-time at City. Thomas has played just once under van Nistelrooy, the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, and has not even been on the bench for the past two matches.
New signing Woyo Coulibaly now appears to be the substitute full-back behind first-choice options James Justin and Victor Kristiansen. Plus, Ricardo Pereira is back on the grass as he recovers from a hamstring injury, and he could be in contention again come March.
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But Thomas still won’t be allowed to leave. Asked if the 23-year-old could depart before Monday’s transfer deadline, van Nistelrooy said after the 4-0 defeat to Everton: “Not when there’s no players in.”
The Dutchman’s answers on incoming transfers did not provide much confidence. He suggested his focus was on the current squad available to him and that any new arrivals would be a “bonus”.
He did confirm one imminent move though. Young attacking midfielder Will Alves is heading to Championship side Cardiff on loan for the rest of the season.
“It’s very good for Will that he goes to play minutes in the Championship for Cardiff,” van Nistelrooy told BBC Radio Leicester. “We’ll keep an eye on him over the coming months to get him back to Leicester over the summer.”
