In a desperate deadline day dash to revitalise and strengthen a depleted squad, Leicester City Football Club have targeted the spine of their XI. The expected arrivals of Jamaal Lascelles, Joe Aribo and Divine Mukasa have buoyed the Blue Army. These additions are not merely depth: they are immediate necessities in most areas.
Lascelles, a seasoned Newcastle United defender, is predicted to step straight into the heart of the backline following Wout Faes' departure and Jannik Vestergaard's injury struggles. The centre back's leadership, aerial dominance and overall strength provide the defensive steel currently absent at King Power Stadium.
Jamaal Lascelles set to join Leicester from Newcastle and will undergo a medical on Monday.🩺 pic.twitter.com/d11EHkEwvT
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) February 1, 2026
​Joe Aribo arrives from Southampton as a midfield engine who can play wide too. While he has found minutes hard to come by on the South Coast, his ability to operate as a No.8 makes him a natural replacement for the injured Jordan James. Aribo's physicality and ball-carrying ability should offer the much-needed protection for a defence that has looked exposed all season.
​Perhaps the most intriguing addition is Divine Mukasa. Interim boss Andy King confirmed LCFC's pursuit of the Manchester City starlet in a recent press conference. He noted that the 18-year-old has been "tracked closely" by the Foxes recruitment team.
King described Mukasa as a "very promising young player" whom the club "rate very highly". Stressing that the England youth international offers crucial flexibility across the front line and in the No.10 role.
With Aaron Ramsey sidelined until March, Mukasa is poised for an immediate and creative role in the Foxes starting line-up. You can see how the new look XI may look beneath:
Potential Leicester City XI with new forecasted signings
Jakub Stolarczyk; Victor Kristiansen, Ben Nelson, Jamaal Lascelles, Ricardo Pereira; Harry Winks, Joe Aribo ; Stephy Mavididi, Divine Mukasa, Abdul Fatawu; Patson Daka.
There is a chance that Winks comes in whist James is awaited. Mukasa may be used sparingly to begin with; Pep Guardiola claims he's a decent striker too.