Marti Cifuentes has a massively saturated Leicester City squad at the moment. 31 senior (with some standout youth also involved) players is arguably an unmanageable number. And that is what the Leicestershire side are said to have at their disposal. With only a trio of Foxes supposedly unavailable for the visit of Coventry City on Saturday lunchtime, LCFC will have some unhappy personnel to deal with after the weekend.
Cutting down the roster further back in August, or even on September 1, would have been far preferable to be completely honest. City should have done more to offload deadwood or unused, but relatively valuable, professionals. Or, alternatively, the East Midlands team could have loaned out a few up-and-coming starlets for development.
Yet we are where we are; the King Power organisation are reportedly tough negotiators. Therefore Leicester bosses and the recruitment staff obviously didn't settle for undervalued or testing offers for assets of varying degrees of standing and quality.
However, the Filbert Way club will likely be back to business come the New Year. I do envision some sales and maybe a loan or two. And our friends at Leicester Mercury have published a list of five Foxes they are unsure over. This quintet of City players is apparently expected to leave during the January transfer window.
These five Leicester City footballers might perhaps depart at first opportunity
Before we get into the main content, I was surprised to read the Mercury's Jordan Blackwell's thoughts on forgotten Fox, Harry Souttar.
The Australian was, surprisingly, registered amongst Leicester's squad. And the writer believes Ben Nelson could actually be the centre back who loses out or leaves on loan.
"It means, come January, City are likely to have five first-team centre-backs. That seems like too many for Marti Cifuentes to accommodate.Leicester Mercury
Depending on who the manager sees as the best four options, City will need to move a player on, either with a sale or loan.
A loan would especially be needed if it’s Ben Nelson who’s not going to get a look-in. He needs the game-time to aid his development."
Elsewhere, Wout Faes didn't move to Turkey. Yet Lazio may return for the Belgian in Jan. Meanwhile Silko Thomas and Wanya Marcal might respectively and temporarily switch.
Blackwell also, understandably, considers Victor Kristiansen possibly surplus to requirements. Again, the Dane could actively seek a move.