What Would Represent An Ideal January Transfer Window For Leicester City
After a dodgy start to the 2017/18 Premier League campaign under Craig Shakespeare, Leicester City seem to have found stable ground ever since Claude Puel took over around a couple of months ago.
Having spent the early parts of the season around the bottom of the table, recent good form has seen the Foxes jump up to 8th position in the standings, with 27 points from 20 league games. They also got to the quarter-final stages of the Carabao Cup but were edged out of the competition by Manchester City on penalties.
Under Puel, things have taken a turn for the better for Leicester, but consistency is something that is still lacking and the manager will be keen on changing that aspect. At the same time, he might also look to bring in some new faces in the winter window, to build a team in his own image, which would also mean that the exit is close for some of the Leicester players who are not performing as expected.
With that being said, here we analyse as to what would be the ideal January transfer window for the Foxes.
The goalkeeping department is pretty much sorted out for the Foxes with Kasper Schmeichel, Eldin Jakupovic and Ben Hamer in the ranks. The centre-back positions too are quite strong, with captain Wes Morgan leading the way alongside summer signing Harry Maguire. Loanee Aleksandar Dragovic hasn’t had a lot of playing time, but is a more than a decent backup to have. Robert Huth will strengthen the ranks further, once he returns from injury.
In Christian Fuchs and Ben Chilwell, they have a solid pairing to rotate at left-back as well, but it is the right-back slot that needs reinforcement over the winter. Danny Simpson has been a consistent performer for Leicester but the lack of a proper backup for him is a cause of concern for the club, especially now that he is out injured for close to five weeks.
Reports have linked the Foxes with a move for Benfica right-back Andre Almeida, who could be available for as little as £9million, which would be a great bargain in the current market.
The central midfield department is another area that Puel needs little worrying about, as the club have a wealth of options in the likes of Wilfred Ndidi, Vicente Iborra, Andy King and Matty James. Add to that the imminent arrival of Adrien Silva, whose transfer will be officially confirmed on January 1, after the Foxes missed the summer deadline to file paperwork related to his move, things look great in the middle of the pitch.
With Riyad Mahrez having found his mojo back, a number of clubs will be eyeing the Algerian, with the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the race. For the Foxes to continue their progress under Puel, the 26-year old is extremely pivotal and they cannot afford to lose him at this point of time, which is why they must do everything in their power to keep hold of Mahrez, at least until the summer.
Demarai Gray has been reaping the benefits of Puel’s youth policy as well, while Marc Albrighton remains an important part of the Foxes’ setup.
Reports of a move for forgotten PSG man Hatem Ben Arfa have been rife ever since Puel took charge, given that the two enjoyed a great working relationship back at OGC Nice a couple of seasons ago. While the Frenchman has failed to shine in the French capital, if he hits the heights he did under Puel at Nice, it would be worth the risk for Leicester.
That leaves Ahmed Musa in a bit of an iffy situation, however. The Nigerian has struggled for game time this season and was close to completing a move to Hull City on the summer deadline day. While the manager has insisted that the winger might remain a Leicester player after the winter window, one would presume that he is likely to be one the way out.
Another player who is set to leave the King Power Stadium in the winter is Islam Slimani. The Algerian was off to a great start to life with Leicester but has seen game time come at a premium this term and with Puel preferring Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki, his situation is unlikely to improve. With interest from several Premier League clubs, including Newcastle United, a move away in January is pretty much a sealed deal for Slimani.
Leonardo Ulloa is another striker who finds himself in a similar situation to Slimani, amidst interest from Championship side Aston Villa, but Puel is reluctant to lose the Argentine forward, so it is likely that he might end up staying at the King Power beyond January.
Verdict
Leicester City are likely to see a few players leave in the winter, with Slimani, Musa and Ulloa the most likely candidates. With Adrien Silva set to become an official Leicester player, he will strengthen the side with his experience and leadership.
Hatem Ben Arfa would be a major risk for the club, but if he finds form, he will add another dimension to their attack. However, signing a right-back is very much the need of the hour for the Foxes, and if they manage to bring in Almeida from Benfica, that would be a great deal for the club.