Players loaned in
Goodbye to Jordan James, Joe Aribo, Aaron Ramsey, Divine Mukasa and Dujuan Richards.
There’s a lot that’s horrendous about our relegation, but one of the worst things is Jordan James’s journey to becoming a club legend being cut short.
We do have some kind of arrangement with his parent club, but you’d imagine Rennes will waive that because we won’t be able to pay the reported £5m fee, and they’ll probably be able to double that by selling to someone else.
If that scenario doesn’t play out, it could become a major problem for all parties. Regardless, we won’t see JJ in a Leicester shirt next season, which is a desperate shame – never fall in love with a loan player. The other four obviously return to their parent clubs.
Players loaned out
Bilal El Khannouss: Necessary sale
The conditions to trigger VfB Stuttgart’s obligation to buy have already been met. A sale with little or no profit.
Wout Faes: Necessary sale
Having parked his comedy footballer act for the time being and reportedly playing well for Monaco, the chances of Faes sealing a move to the principality side seem quite good. A necessary outcome for everyone involved.
Woyo Coulibaly: Necessary sale or loan
Remember him? Well, if you receive the Fosse Friday email, I’m sure you’ll have been keen to scroll down each week to get the latest news in the ‘Woyo Watch’ section. Or maybe not. I’m sure the player won’t want to swap Serie A for League One, so a sale or, knowing Italian teams, another loan beckons.
Sammy Braybrooke: Retain
The 22-year-old Leicester Iniesta has finally shaken off some serious injuries and played really well in League Two for both Newport and playoff-bound Chesterfield. A natural progression would be to League One, so he could be an important member of the team next season.
Nathan Opoku: Manager’s call
At age 24 (25 when next season starts), under normal circumstances, 6 goals in 30 games for Christian Fuchs’s League Two Newport is fewer than Opoku would have liked, or maybe needed, to give himself the profile to return to us and compete for a place in the squad. However, it’s almost certain that he will get the chance to impress whoever the new manager is, purely on the basis of him still being around.
Will Alves: Manager’s call
It feels like Alves has been around for a while, but he only turns 21 today. Sadly, he’s suffered another frustrating season on loan at Huddersfield where he’s made just 11 appearances (and got his first senior goal) in between numerous niggly injuries.
It’s probably now or never for Will, and after the way he’s battled back following that disgraceful challenge he received that caused his first major injury back in 2022, everyone has their fingers crossed that the local boy makes it.
Jake Evans: Retain
Evans doesn’t turn 18 until August, so the 16 appearances for Northampton (and two goals) will have supercharged his development. One to watch for next season.
Jayden Joseph: Retain
27 appearances and 3 goals for the pacy 19-year-old wide player or full back, as Joseph experienced his first taste of senior football at Tranmere Rovers in League Two. The reports coming out of the Wirral are that he’s had a good season and therefore has every chance of being involved with us next term.
Tom Wilson-Brown: Retain
Turning 22 this October, Wilson-Brown has been experiencing his first taste of senior football, in amongst a relatively inexperienced defence, challenging for promotion at League Two Swindon. Often on the left of a back three, his ‘signature pass’ of a cross-field switch is something we’d love to see at Leicester. Swindon fans seem quite pleased with him, which is always a good sign. One to watch for next season.
Henry Cartwright: Retain
Among 30 appearances for Falkirk in the SPL, Cartwright scored the goal that cost Russell Martin his job against Rangers and grabbed the winner against Motherwell on Saturday.
He has gained a lot of experience in Scotland, especially playing in the huge Old Firm stadiums. In the mix for a squad place next season, but his performances may have even alerted other clubs to his ability too.
Chris Popov: Manager’s call
7 goals in 16 games for National League Morecambe is a good goal return from some much needed game time. Turning 22 in October, this summer may be his last chance to impress here at Leicester.
Conclusion
Of the 29 players listed in this season’s squad, all 5 loanees will probably be leaving, alongside 4 out of the 5 who are out of contract (with maybe Lascelles staying). Around 11 of the remaining 19 will need to be sold.
With 3 who are out on loan needing to be sold as well, but with some loanees returning, it would leave us with the following squad for next season:
Stolarczyk
Souttar, Lascelles, L Thomas, Aluko, Wilson-Brown
Page, S Thomas, De Cordova-Reid, Wanya Marcal, Braybrooke, Cartwright, Alves, Joseph
Opoku, Evans, Popov
We could then add, amongst others, Stevie Bausor (goalkeeper), Kevon Gray (centre back), Logan Briggs (attacker), Michael Golding (midfielder), Josh King (forward), Amani Richards (forward), Kirsten Otchere (forward) and Darren Motsi (midfielder) from the Under 21 squad.
That leaves a very, very inexperienced squad of 25, that would need some battle-hardened signings in all departments to get us up and around the 30-player mark. Bear in mind that the EFL will scrutinise our accounts from the outset, which could lead to sanctions such as a transfer ban if we can’t prove to them that we’re managing things financially. If we can bring some players in, this in turn could enable some of the Under 21 squad to go out on loan instead and reduce the numbers.
All while needing to appoint a new manager.
The reality is that it’ll be incredibly difficult to sell 14 players (mainly as it needs 14 other clubs to buy them), so it may be the case that some remain. This is where our biggest challenge will lie, because this isn’t one of those nice scenarios where we can be relaxed about who stays or goes. The financial implication of not concluding this amount of business could be terminal for the club.
Away from the financial aspect, we also cannot continue with this philosophy of “we’re paying them so we might as well play them”. Anyone who doesn’t want to be here at the start of the season mustn’t be anywhere near the first team squad. Any signing coming in at League One level needs to commit to the club and move to the area. We must toughen up as a club and stop accepting the unacceptable.
Things are never simple at Leicester City, but this summer may well be one of the wildest ever. Strap yourself in.
The Fosse Way 