The January transfer window has opened. Leicester City will be looking for reinforcements to improve upon their situation. Here is who they should sign.
I think most of the fan base are in relative agreement as to where the Foxes should concentrate their efforts. The King Power club have been linked with, and supporters agree with, right-wingers, goalkeepers, centre-backs, left-backs, and a few midfielders. Three of these positions are critical.
Leicester City need a right-winger, again
After offloading loanee Ademola Lookman, the East Midlands club are yet to bring in a winger. To rub further salt into the wounds, both of those who were let go have since performed well: Cengiz Under and Lookman have both been great for their new sides. It is perplexing the Foxes never signed either of them permanently.
Leicester need to sign a goal scoring or chance creating right-winger. Now, with James Maddison being played quite heavily on the right to incorporate both Kieran Dewsbury-Hall and Youri Tielemans in midfield, this does not have to be a first team player, although someone with some numbers to back them up would be nice.
I love the Bundesliga, so a lot of the players I have better knowledge of tend to be from that league. In other countries, we usually rely on stats to show us what we could be missing. In saying that, there are three possible options here, although I believe the Foxes will be looking elsewhere for their signing – like another loan to buy from Serie A.
Josip Brekalo, Marco Richter, and Tanguy Coulibaly are my preferred choices. None would be overly expensive – which is a requirement for any signing this window – and all three are versatile players capable of performing from either wing. This makes them utility on the left, a ‘better than Ayoze Perez’ on the right, and competent going forward.
Of course, none of these are first team quality for Leicester – supporters will have to wait until the summer for a chance at a prolific right-winger. Nevertheless, they each offer something.
Brekalo is not your prolific goal scorer. The player creates chances for others and shows a great deal of promise going forward and still has plenty of room to grow at 24 years of age. According to FB Ref, the winger is only in the 71st percentile for chance creation and 13th for non-penalty xG: not particularly impressive.
However, the player has been linked in the past, is decent going forward, and his stats are hamstrung by a lack of consistent appearances for the side. With play time, this Croatian talent can grow into an inexpensive and useful player.
Richter is almost an opposite to the Croatia man. The German right-winger may not create much for others, but as FB Ref shows, he certainly takes chances. Within the 86th percentile for shots taken, the player is consistently involved in attacking threat when played: this has earned him three goals and two assists. Although not prolific, they at least contribute to the team from the bench.
Further, what he misses in scoring the player makes up for in impressive defensive characteristics. 95th percentile for clearances, 87th for tackling, 85th for interceptions: high-pressing, low-blocking, and last ditch scenarios are no large task for Richter. The player offers a more defensive winger who can support fullbacks when in a low block.
Coulibaly would be the least expensive and least initially impressive option available. The player hardly features for Stuttgart but remains an exceptionally talented young player: technically gifted and pacey. All that is missing from the winger’s play style is a prolific tenacity to dominate the ball and create chances for himself and others: something which will come with training and game time.
Overall, I would support the signing of Richter if no other options were available. Obviously, should Leicester prefer a loan to buy for Jeremiah Boga I’ll support that, although I am no longer that impressed with the former Chelsea man.
A centre-back to boot
The King Power club need a centre-back. With Caglar Soyuncu out of favour, Daniel Amartey being simply not good enough, and Jonny Evans’ legs and feet being made of plaster, we are in desperate need of reinforcements, again.
This is the position I hope the Foxes splash the cash. For me, there is only one player I am interested in seeing signed for the club: Maxence Lacroix. I rave about this player constantly, so those who have read my previous transfer window pieces know I desperately want this French talent in Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Lacroix’s contract expires in 2025, so there is no chance of a cutthroat deal for the talent: I’d expect anywhere from £20m to £30m. The French defender is a progressive, aggressive, ball-carrying, chance creating and swift technical player. There is no mistaking it, Lacroix is the best companion for Wout Faes.
FB Ref places Lacroix in the 98th percentile for dribbling, 91st for expected assists, 81st for progressive passing, and defensively in the 95th for clearances, 88th for interceptions, and 84th for aerial duels won. This French prodigy destroys opposition attacks by cutting out passes and winning in the air, as well as starting attacks for his side.
No matter the price, Leicester must get Maxence Lacroix. Plus, another U23 French defender would be nice to sell in a couple years time for a hefty profit: a win-win for the Foxes in the meantime and afterwards.
Finally, a left-back
With James Justin, Ricardo Pereira, and Ryan Bertrand seemingly caught in loops of injuries, Leicester City need to bring in reinforcements for Luke Thomas, and someone who can improve upon the academy graduate in both defensive and attacking departments. There are two good options.
Again, this is an area I believe the Foxes ought to spend some cash on: Alex Grimaldo and Robin Gosens are two of the better options for the East Midlands side, although where there are the available funds is yet to be seen. In this context, both are unlikely signings, but we can still dream.
Gosens was linked a couple windows ago after a great campaign with Germany. The player is a left-back/wing-back that could create and score chances for breakfast. This remains true despite a slight decline from that purple patch.
FB Ref hold the player in the 99th percentile for goals scored, 87th for tackling, and 84th for progressive passing. Despite not always being in the perfect position, when the team is in possession, the German international offers an immense threat on the overlap and underlap: a perfect companion for the ever-dangerous Harvey Barnes.
Meanwhile, Grimaldo is almost more of an attacker than a left-back. The Spanish defender is experienced, so has perfectly astute positionality, but typically is not involved in much defensive play. In fact, he is one of the best for progressiveness, scoring, and chance creation.
Both would be around £20m. However, with Thomas already here, we do not need backup or rotation, we have our utility in Justin, our rotation with Thomas, now the Foxes need a prolific left-back. Either would be a great signing for the Foxes.
What do you think about these choices? Are they too unrealistic, too expensive, not good enough? Let Foxes of Leicester know on our social channels on Twitter and Facebook.