There is no sound quite like that of the transfer window closing. Mainly because it doesn’t exist. The transfer window is an arbitrary footballing reference point, with the countdown to the end sending twitter feeds into overdrive and the mobile phone batteries of football agents constantly on charge. I tend to hate it but that’s because Leicester City has hardly been a hive of transfer activity recently, with only one new outfield player signed in over a year. With the 22/23 season threatening to unravel spectacularly, players coming in were desperately needed. So have Leicester finally delivered?
Viktor Kristiansen – A Sorely-needed left-back
Following the long-term injury to James Justin before the World Cup, Luke Thomas has been an ever-present in the left-back slot and its fair to say he’s struggled. With Justin not returning for the rest of the season the foxes turned to long-term target Viktor Kristiansen from FC Copenhagen. A tall and athletic left back costing 17 million pounds, Leicester seemed to have overpaid significantly from their first reported bids of less than 10 million, but at the age of only 20 years old he has time on his side to get even better.
In The Danish Superliga his style of play sees him getting up and down the wings, whilst being strong into tackles. His pace and reading of attackers in one-on-one situations looks like a significant improvement on Thomas’s recent form. Kristiansen’s arrival will also give Thomas some rest and someone to learn from as he navigates a career that appears to have plateaued. Kristiansen will be a welcome addition to the squad and will help shore up a weak spot in the team. The only issue will be when Kristiansen can complete a full 90 minutes with his levels still being brought up slowly after being plucked from the Danish pre-season.
Harry Souttar – The defender we should have signed 18 months ago
The centre-backs position has looked messy for a while. After Wesley Fofana’s baby toys had been cleared up, the club wisely moved for Wout Faes in what was hoping to be a partnership with Jonny Evans. That never materialised, as Evans injury problems resurfaced, leaving the inconsistent Daniel Amartey deputising mainly because of the lack of options behind him. Caglar Soyuncu has been frozen out by Brendan Rodgers after sub-par training sessions and Atletico Madrid rumours. Leaving the 15 million pound Jannik Vestergaard who hasn’t featured in any Premier League games this season.
Enter the Australian international Harry Souttar from Stoke City. A 6 foot 6 centre-back who will command aerial presence, be aggressive in the tackle and is steady on the ball. It would be nice to start seeing a real physical presence bully attackers coming from someone in a Leicester City shirt rather than the other way around. He looks a step up on Daniel Amartey and should really come straight into the starting eleven, but also this gives Rodgers the option to play with 3 centre-backs if needed and maybe free up his attacking options. Souttar has the potential to be a real fan favourite.
Tete – The right-wing Brazilian flair we’ve always craved
The lack of a natural right-winger at the club is a problem that has plagued the club ever since Riyad Mahrez left in 2018. The lack of balance has been a real source of attacking issues with players shoehorned into the role and not really playing it the way Rodgers likes. With natural width and aggression.
It seems bizarre that it has taken till 2023 for the first player to hail from the country of samba beats to sign for the foxes. But finally, a player with a short pithy nickname to hide his longer four-name pseudonym has arrived. Tete becomes the first-ever Brazilian to play for the foxes and as a fierce and positive right winger, he seems to fit the bill and profile of player needed.
In fairness, anyone that likes playing in that position would have been welcomed, but a pacy Brazilian winger could be the type of player that gets the foxes faithful out of their seats in excitement. The only downside is that it is only a short-term deal and he will remain a Shaktar Donetsk player from this summer. But for the time being, Tete should be just what we need.
A near miss
We now know that Leeds United’s Jack Harrison was at Seagrave training ground on the transfer deadline day and that his parent club pulled the plug at the eleventh hour. Harrison would have arguably been a fantastic signing. He is a left-footed player who can operate in several forward positions with his versatility being a key element to potentially push others to play better and not become complacent.
Alas, it wasn’t meant to be and it now appears that Harrison will be signing a new contract at Elland Road. If I was him I’d delay and wait for City to return in the summer when they will be more than keen to get him back to King Power Stadium.
Departures
No permanent departures but a couple of key players that have been used out wide right have gone to get more game time. Ayoze Perez leaves on loan to Real Betis to fulfil his dream of playing in La Liga – with his contract up in the summer it’s likely he will not return. Marc Albrighton makes the short trip to West Bromwich Albion to see if he can get some much-needed minutes at The Hawthorns.
The right-sided issue that many Leicester City tweets seem to be fretting about might be slightly missing the point. Neither Perez nor Albrighton were seen as solutions on that side and were not the answer to Rodgers’ needs. The likelihood is that when Ricardo Pereira returns that he will push on that side as well as his full-back duties. But also don’t forget that James Maddison has operated on that side to great effect this season. The problems are not as big as some fear. In addition – George Hirst has gone on loan to League One Ipswich Town to continue his development and Nathan Opuku arrived from Syracuse university to be immediately loaned out to sister club OH Leuven.
All in all, it’s been a successful window, with Leicester City addressing some key areas with much-needed reinforcements. The fans will be looking forward to seeing some new players pull on the famous foxes shirt and turn this season around sooner rather than later.