Two Players Leicester City Should Look To Sign In January
Leicester City are on their path to revival under the new management of Claude Puel. After finding themselves under the threat of relegation very early into the season, the Foxes decided to get rid of Craig Shakespeare and handed the reigns to former Southampton boss, Puel. In his two games in charge of the club, there has already been an upturn of form.
An impressive 2-0 win over Everton in Puel’s first game as boss was followed by a 2-2 draw away at Stoke City and the Foxes, heading into the international break, find themselves at 12th place, with 13 points from 11 games.
Things may have begun on a strong note for the Frenchman, but he will know that the work is far from done. And it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him dip into the transfer market come January, to add two or three players who will make the squad stronger and help the team challenge for a finish in the top-half of the table.
And here we look at two such players who Puel and Leicester should look to sign:
Hatem Ben Arfa (Paris Saint-Germain)
The French attacker has been linked with a move to the King Power Stadium of late, with reports from Daily Mail claiming that Puel is keen on signing the winger in January.
Ben Arfa joined the French outfit in the summer of 2016 but endured a torrid time, as he finished with just two assists in 23 Ligue 1 games. He has completely fallen out of favour with manager Unai Emery this term and hasn’t featured in a single game. However, Puel has faith in the winger’s abilities, having managed the 30-year old during his reign at OGC Nice in 2015-16, when Ben Arfa enjoyed one of his best seasons, finishing with 18 goals and 6 assists in 37 games.
The 15-times capped French international has Premier League experience, having played in the English top-flight with Newcastle United and Hull City. In total, he has 84 appearances in the Premier League, in which he has managed 13 goals and 13 assists.
Ben Arfa may have struggled in the recent past, but if he gets going, he can prove to be an exciting option to have in the ranks. Puel certainly knows how to get the best out of him, which would make him a good signing for Leicester.
Andy Yiadom (Barnsley)
The right-back position is something that the Foxes would want to strengthen in the winter transfer window. While Danny Simpson has done very well in the position and has been consistently solid, the lack of backup options for the former Newcastle United man is a reason for worry.
They might find a solution to that concern in Barnsley’s Andy Yiadom. The 25-year old was heavily linked with fellow Premier League clubs Huddersfield Town and Swansea City in the summer, but a move failed to materialise. However, with his contract set to expire in less than a year, the Tykes might look to make some money by selling him in January.
The Ghanaian international has played just 5 times for the Championship side this term, registering a sole assist. However, his performances from the previous season are indicative of his talent and ability. The 25-year old appeared 33 times for the Tykes last season, registering 3 assists in total.
A top-notch dribbler of the ball, Yiadom is known for his surging forward runs down the flank, which was slightly tied down last season due to the way Barnsley operated. Defensively sound as well, he is a strong tackler and a good reader of the game who can hold the fort at the back. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, and with his proven ability in the lower leagues and his age, Yiadom makes for an exciting prospect that Foxes should definitely look at.