What is Leicester's top priority for the last two weeks of the transfer window?
Assuming no magical money tree has been found, and unless any wonder loan deals can be done, it seems quite simple: keeping hold of our best assets. That’s assuming none of those assets insist on pushing for a move out. We’ve all seen clubs try to hang on to unhappy players and it so rarely ever benefits either party. We got lucky in some respects when Riyad Mahrez pulled a similar stunt, that he at least stood down and continued to play quite well afterwards until his eventual departure.
Money and time don’t really feel like they’re on our side, and even if we generate money from sales, the best or cheapest options have already made their moves and we have nothing to really entice a player to up sticks and move if they’re unsure. Dabbling in the market late hasn’t often done us much good either. Assuming we were to lose both Wesley Fofana and Youri Tielemans, the priority to replace would be Fofana. We’re still thin on the ground for defenders anyway, and given the defensive errors with Fofana there, could already do with bolstering in some way.
Removing the barriers of reality, it would be nice to think we could address the fact that Rodgers has shuffled his entire preferred formation to solve one injury to Harvey Barnes, as he feels we couldn’t possibly try playing somebody else there in the short term. A winger, maybe one for each side, would be the dream – but it’s been four years without a permanent, true right winger so I see no reason that’ll change now.
Helen Nutter
I'd still like something different up top – another option should the usual, go-to tactics prove ineffectual. How that'd look, though, I'm not entirely sure.
But really, it's all about offloading fringe players while keeping hold of the most influential ones. If we can get deals over the line for the likes of Soumare and Vestergaard, it'll go some way to allow strengthening in the winter.
Interest in Maddison looks to have cooled, which is a positive, and it feels as though Vardy to Man United is just paper talk rather than anything substantial. I'm starting to be swayed on Fofana, though: should Chelsea bid silly money, it might be worth us taking it and reinvesting elsewhere.
Ryan Hubbard
Obviously, a lot has been made about us being the only side not to sign anyone. And while we do need to freshen up a couple of areas, I don't think it’s a huge problem. The narrative in the media has been extremely frustrating, claiming we need the money and prompting some derisory offers for our players.
I think the main priority has to be keeping our best players at the club, particularly Fofana and Tielemans. I still don't actually think they will leave this late in the window, as we don't have enough time to replace them, plus Wes is on a long-term contract which gives the club a better bargaining position.
I think it would take at least £90m to prise him away, but I think this time next year his value could be closer to £100m. As for Youri, I've mentioned before that I'd probably rather him stay another season and let him leave on a free if we can't get him to sign a new contract, rather than let him leave for a measly sum. After all, he's won us the FA Cup.
I don't think Maddison will go anywhere either, but we do need to trim down the squad and try to offload some of the deadwood. Bertrand, Vestergaard, Mendy, Soumare and Perez would probably all be players I'd listen to offers for, but as seen with Vestergaard, even when clubs come in for our players they'd probably rather stay here on their wages.
I highly doubt we'll manage to shift any of those players, but if we did then obviously we're crying out for a winger (or two), and I still think we're a striker short. Unfortunately, those positions are usually the most expensive but I wouldn't be surprised to see us utilise the loan market. I doubt Chelsea would want to do business with us if we don't sell Fofana, but I'd definitely take Callum Hudson-Odoi or Armando Broja off them.
Jordan Halford
There are lots of potential answers to this question, but I’d argue with our current squad that it’s the same as it’s been since 10th July 2018: replace Riyad Mahrez.
Obviously we’ve made some important additions elsewhere in the team since that time, but the need for a right winger has been so glaring. With a strong option in that position, we’d have qualified for the Champions League at least once in the past four years. It’s also ridiculous that one winger gets injured and Rodgers feels a somewhat understandable need to change formation entirely.
To take 2020 as an example – that was the year West Ham signed Jarrod Bowen for £22 million and Leeds signed Raphinha for £17m. We spent our money on Wesley Fofana and Timothy Castagne and relied on the loan of Cengiz Under to get by in the right wing position.
That’s fine as a long-term strategy, because we’ll make a huge profit on Fofana and Castagne’s versatility has been priceless given our never-ending injury crisis. But if and when we sell Fofana, hopefully some of the money will go towards finally solving our biggest problem position.
Dave Bevan
I recently revisited Michael Lewis's fantastic Moneyball, which outlines Billy Beane's Five Rules of Trading. Three of these are starkly applicable to our current situation:
1. "No matter how successful you are, change is always good."
It’s painfully clear that change has been stymied by the difficulties faced in offloading senior players on the fringes of the first team. We were desperate for a squad refresh, which now won’t happen this summer...
2. "The day you say you have to do something, you're screwed."
...and part of the reason for that is Exhibit A: Vestergaard. We all knew that centre-back cover was an issue when Fofana was injured, but when you panic buy, more often than not you’re going to make a bad deal. As Beane puts it, "You can always recover from the player you didn't sign, but you may never recover from the player you signed at the wrong price." Vestergaard (through no fault of his own) is on a high wage as fifth/sixth-choice centre-back, blocking a potential signing.
3. "Know exactly what every player is worth to you. Put a figure on it."
There’s nothing revolutionary about this rule, especially in modern football. Thankfully, we have a recent history of being very good at this, and I'm confident that if we have any high-profile departures it will be for a significant sum.
Overall, as boring as it sounds, the top priority has to be holding on to key players unless our prices are met. The time may have already passed for impactful starting XI signings, but if the necessary dominoes fall, a new right winger should be the priority.
Matt Jedruch
Our priority has to be moving players on. That’s been the priority for the whole window. I think it's awful how some players have been rejecting moves away from the club, because it’s impacted the whole window and now it's getting too late. So hopefully, these agreements can be made and spaces can open up for new signings.
Then a centre-back or two and a winger are needed. This is all funded if Chelsea pay what’s required for Fofana. As soon as that money is received, the priority has to be bringing in a quality replacement and further depth at the back.
It’s a whole lot to happen in two weeks. and typically it’s not all going to go smoothly, but I feel as if one move happens, things should hopefully all start to fit into place.
Jack Johnson
Given where we are and the reality of our financial position, the priority for me has to be holding on to our players. I understand the desire to make new signings, but there's a reason that hasn't happened and I can't see it at this stage of the window. If we keep hold of everyone, our strongest XI is better than it was last year and should be well capable of a top-half finish.
Chloe Dexter
A new manager! But in terms of incomings, I'd love a first-choice keeper because Ward, Iversen and Smithies are all Championship standard.
The top priority must be to retain Fofana and Maddison. I don't want either player leaving, mainly because I have no faith in Rodgers or the recruitment team bringing in adequate replacements if they were to depart. We'd end up with Tyrone Mings on deadline day.
The top six had all of June and July to sign him, and they all chose not to. Fofana is a world-class talent who is only going to get better. He can act petulantly or hand in a transfer request, but we shouldn't budge unless an offer of £100m+ comes in (and by then, it would be too late to bring in a replacement anyway). It shouldn't come as much surprise that he's throwing his toys out of the pram, given it's exactly what he did at Saint-Etienne to get his move here. Ultimately, nobody forced him to sign a five-year contract this year. For once, we hold the cards in this instance.
Dante Clarke
It's obvious we'll cave in and sell Fofana, and therefore we should get on with it. A lot of cash plus Hudson-Odoi coming the other way works well for everyone, and would add some much-needed stardust. However, we have to get another defender. Goodness knows who at this late stage, though.
Also, we can't let Vardy leave. Psychologically, it'd floor everyone.
Iain Wright
