Leicester City have made four signings but need more recruits to get their squad ready for the Premier League, and they may need to sell in order to raise the cash
Leicester City have welcomed four signings to the club so far this summer but if they’re to bring in more, they need to think about offloading players.
Firstly, they need space in the squad. There’s a limit of 25 players that can be registered in the Premier League, but even if there were not, they need to get the balance right. They need options and they need depth, but too many players on the fringes and the squad becomes more difficult to manage. After his experience at Nottingham Forest, Steve Cooper could do without an excess of players.
But also, City need cash. They have to keep the books balanced. Spending more money on transfer fees and wages without making some back through sales is only going to lead City into more trouble around Profit and Sustainability Rules.
So to build the kitty to buy an attacking midfielder and anybody else they might like, who do they sell? That’s a tricky question to answer at the moment. Unlike under Enzo Maresca, it’s not yet known who Cooper’s favourites are and who will be surplus to requirements.
It certainly seems, now that Caleb Okoli has arrived, that City have a surplus of centre-backs. Even if Cooper is going for a back five, he probably doesn’t need six central defenders in the squad.
If Maresca was still in charge, Harry Souttar would have been heading for the exit. While he does have a fresh chance to impress under Cooper, he is perhaps still down the pecking order, and if he is to be sold, he could maybe fetch £10m.
Victor Kristiansen is another who may leave. The left-back didn’t have a place in Maresca’s squad, but may do so under Cooper. Still, he’s just qualified for the Champions League with Bologna and may now not want to return to City and join what will likely be a relegation battle. To make sure they don’t make a PSR loss, a sale of around £15m would be required.
Boubakary Soumare is another who spent last season out on loan and he impressed enough at Sevilla for them to want him back. The only thing that stood in the way was the price. With Wilfred Ndidi re-signing at City, Soumare could be sold, but the asking price may have to come down to £10m for a deal to be reached.
If City are to bring in a new striker, as many fans hope they will do, then one of the current three in the squad will likely have to depart. Cooper can’t keep four forwards happy.
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