Last-minute transfer did not satisfy Leicester City need as club hierarchy splits opinion

The results of our survey of more than 1,400 Leicester City supporters on transfers, January priorities, the battle for survival, Steve Cooper’s start, and more

Leicester City’s last-minute signing of Odsonne Edouard has not satisfied the club’s need for a new striker, a survey has said.

City loaned the Crystal Palace forward at midnight on deadline day, giving manager Steve Cooper a much-needed alternative to Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka at the top of the pitch. However, a LeicestershireLive poll of more than 1,400 City supporters suggests it’s the area of the team that requires most attention when the January transfer window opens.

We asked which position needed strengthening in the new year and the majority of fans said the forward department, with 65 per cent of fans feeling an addition up front would make the biggest difference. In second place, but with only 15 per cent, fans said a new attacking midfielder was needed, while a new full-back was the third preference on 13 per cent.

That attacking midfield is still seen as the second-biggest priority is perhaps a surprise given the two attacking midfielders City signed in the summer are seen as their most exciting new recruits. Asked which of City’s new faces was the best signing of the summer, Facundo Buonanotte’s promising early-season showings saw him come out on top with 49 per cent of the vote, while £20m Moroccan international Bilal El Khannouss was second on 16 per cent.

On the whole, City had an adequate transfer window. Forty-six per cent of respondents described it as ‘okay’, the middle of our five options. Meanwhile, 26 per cent of fans rated it ‘excellent’ or ‘good’, with the remaining 28 per cent deeming it ‘poor’ or ‘abysmal’.

The combination of that business and the first three performances in the Premier League have left the fanbase feeling slightly more confident over the outcome of the season. Fifty-two per cent of supporters rated their optimism levels at ‘about the same’ as before the season began, but 30 per cent said their confidence had risen, compared to 18 per cent who said they were feeling more pessimistic now than a month ago.

Those confidence levels are high enough for the majority of fans to believe City will avoid relegation. Only 29 per cent of respondents feel City will go down, but while the majority think the club will survive, 55 per cent of fans believe it will be close, backing the team to finish just outside the relegation zone.

If safety was achieved, that would be a job well done for Steve Cooper. There is more positivity than negativity towards the new manager right now. While 46 per cent of supporters said they were ‘indifferent’ over his first few months in charge, 35 per cent said they were ‘quite happy’ or ‘very happy’, while only 19 per cent said they were ‘quite unhappy’ or ‘very unhappy’ with Cooper.

It’s a more even split when it comes to happiness with the club’s hierarchy and ownership. Again, more fans selected ‘indifferent’ than any other category, with 30 per cent choosing the middle of five options, but 38 per cent of supporters said were between ‘quite happy’ and ‘very happy’, while 32 per cent ‘quite unhappy’ or ‘very unhappy’ with City’s leadership.