Before Steve Cooper was sacked as manager by Leicester City, he had already begun planning for the January transfer window.
Just a week before his final game in charge, the 2-1 home defeat by Chelsea, Cooper had sat down with head of recruitment Martyn Glover and director of football Jon Rudkin to discuss what they could do in the January window and what areas of the squad required improvement.
His departure doesn’t mean those plans are in ruins. And the next incumbent, most likely Ruud van Nistelrooy, might choose to pick up where he left off.
There is still a month before the window opens, so there is some time for that assessment of the squad to take place, but it is an important window for Leicester City as they attempt to secure their Premier League status.
Traditionally, when Leicester were established in the Premier League and challenging in the top half of the table they were reluctant to dive into the January window, believing it to be a difficult market where prices are inflated. Value for money is difficult to find and it is the window for the desperate.
Two seasons ago they had to move as relegation loomed, bringing in Harry Souttar and Victor Kristiansen, both for £15million fees, and Tete on loan. None of those deals have been a success so far — and Leicester were relegated.
Souttar has hardly played since, Kristiansen went out on loan to Bologna last season and Tete went back to Shakhtar Donetsk.
Can they do better this time?
As for the summer window, there are too many variables between now and the end of the season to predict, like which division they will be in, who the manager will be, who will be sold, what the club’s situation will be with profit and sustainability rules, and even if they will be placed under a registration embargo if they are in the Championship. But here, The Athletic runs you through what it knows about Leicester’s plans for next year.
What positions will they be looking at in 2025?
Under Cooper, injuries dictated some of the requirements. Ricardo Pereira’s four-month injury absence had left only James Justin and Hamza Choudhury as options at right-back.
Then Abdul Fatawu’s season-ending ACL injury left Cooper short on the wing too.
Previously, the biggest area of need was probably at centre-back. Leicester’s defensive record this season has been poor and Cooper played around with combinations alongside Wout Faes, who has not been in good form.
Jannik Vestergaard and Cooper were not on the same wavelength, while Conor Coady has only really featured in the Carabao Cup. Caleb Okoli is still adapting to the Premier League.
Looking further ahead, Jamie Vardy is out of contract. So are Daniel Iversen and Danny Ward, so a striker and another goalkeeper will be on the agenda.
They are also unlikely to be able to follow up interest in Facundo Buonanotte when his loan ends. The Argentina international has been a big hit so far at King Power Stadium.
Are there any players they are already looking at?
Tottenham Hotspur’s Ben Davies was a player they had looked at last summer but a deal wasn’t forthcoming. Whether they can revisit that option in January remains to be seen because Spurs have their own injury issues in defence.
Spurs are also intending to trigger an extension option in Davies’ contract.
Who will they be looking to sell?
Preferably no one in January, but the club has to revert to its traditional model of selling a key asset to ensure compliance with profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) and to free funds for investment in the squad.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had to be sold to Chelsea last June before the end of the financial year to ensure both.
The most bankable asset Leicester have is goalkeeper Mads Hermansen. A young goalkeeper with his ability, both with his feet and hands, will be in demand in the Premier League.
If Leicester are relegated then others might have to move on, such as Boubakary Soumare if he continues his recent resurgence. Harry Winks is a Premier League-quality player too.
Then there are those who have hardly stepped foot on the pitch, such as Coady. He will want to be playing after a frustrating time at Leicester.
Who will make the key decisions over the two windows?
The manager always makes the final decision at Leicester, but recruitment is a collaborative process.
After the manager identifies the areas he wants to strengthen, it is then down to Glover and his team to provide options that are discussed and ranked: first choice, second and third.
Then it is over to director of football Jon Rudkin to conduct the negotiations.
In recent years the financial situation at the club has also had to be factored into the process. In the summer of 2022, Brendan Rodgers was already showing prospective players around the training ground when he was informed they could no longer do the deals because of PSR issues.
Which players’ contracts are expiring? Who is expected to renew?
Jamie Vardy is showing no signs of wanting to end his career. He will want it to be at Leicester when he does hang up his boots. He has always been grateful to the club for taking a chance on him and signing him from Fleetwood Town 12 years ago.
He is, however, one of the highest-paid players at the club. Should Leicester be relegated and hit with PSR sanctions, a renewed contract for Vardy would have to be weighed up.
What is their PSR position?
Unknown at this stage. The club has to submit their accounts for the 2023-24 season in the Championship to the Premier League by the end of the year.
Last season the EFL seemed certain, having seen projections of Leicester’s accounts, that they were going to breach regulations and tried and failed to impose several sanctions, such as a business plan and points deductions handed down by the Premier League for 2022-23.
Leicester have also recently won an appeal against a charge from the Premier League for the same season, arguing they were no longer a top-flight club.
The question of jurisdiction is an area both the Premier League and the EFL will be tightening their rules on and, having been embarrassed. They will be keen to punish Leicester if they breach those rules again.
What sort of budget do they have?
Limited. Chief executive Susan Whelan said, when the 2022-23 accounts were published, that the cost of relegation two seasons ago will be felt for some time. Leicester have had to cut their cloth accordingly.
Odsonne Edouard’s loan from Crystal Palace has not been a success and that could be cancelled to free up a loan spot for any incomings because Leicester will have to be prudent.
What is the new manager’s priority?
Keeping Leicester in the Premier League. Relegation would be a disaster and could shape the club’s fortunes for several years because they could become mired in sanctions in the Championship, making a return difficult if they have breached PSR rules.
Immediately, it has to be to change Leicester’s defensive structure and perhaps even personnel. A couple of new arrivals that could contribute and strengthen the starting XI would help.
(Top photos: Getty Images)
