Claude Puel craves January transfer window to rebalance his Leicester City squad

[davieG]

City manager admits it is tough task to keep all of his players happy

 

The January transfer window is vital for Leicester City manager Claude Puel as he seeks to rebalance his squad.

City have 28 senior players and with 10 in the stands on any given matchday, Puel faces a tough task to keep everyone happy.

The Frenchman used last January to offload strikers from City’s top-heavy squad, Ahmed Musa, Leo Ulloa and Islam Slimani all heading out on loan, but this time, defence and the midfield will likely be his target areas.

Yohan Benalouane, Callum Elder and Andy King are not registered in the Premier League squad, and have not featured this season, while Danny Simpson and Adrien Silva are struggling for game-time too.

Adrien Silva and Leicester City fringe players will get more game-time soon, says Claude Puel
Goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic and winger Fousseni Diabate have also spent much of the season on the sidelines, along with the injured Matty James.

“I know, sometimes, it’s a lot of players in the squad,” said Puel. “It’s a response for the transfer window. We will see if we can continue to give game-time for some players, or if it will be better for some players to go on loan or leave the club.

“I think it’s important always for me to try to have a good balance for the team.

“It’s my work, my job, my management, but it will be easier if we can have a good balance in the team, in the squad, to manage all these players.

“For example, we have had a lot of strikers, a lot of midfielders, I think too much without the good balance in the squad.

“The transfer window is a period to find this balance. Because after we have to manage these players, to give game-time, to keep a positive attitude.

“It’s important to see the dressing room happy and all the players happy to have the possibility to play. It’s important to manage all this and maintain all the players with a positive attitude.

“When a player is not in the squad, he is not happy. It’s normal.”

However, Puel is pleased with the focus of his out-of-favour players, who may get some pitch-time before January with plenty of matches over the festive period.

 

 

Leicester City contracts and those that expire this summer

Five players are out of contract next June and six have another year to go. So who will City keep and who will move on?

ByRob TannerLeicester City Editor
06:00, 16 NOV 2018
SPORT

Five members of Leicester City’s Premier League title-winning squad will be out of contract at the end of the season.

Defenders Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan, Yohan Benalouane and Christian Fuchs, plus striker Shinji Okazkai, were all part of the group that made every City fans’ dream come true in 2016, but all five look set to be leaving at the end of this season.

Christian Fuchs has already stated he would not sign a new contract if offered one as he wishes to move to Manhatten and spend more time with his family, while pursuing his career and business interest in the United States.

However, so far none of them have been offered new contracts and new deals now looking increasingly unlikely, as it is rare for clubs wishing to retain players to allow their contracts to run so low as players can talk to other clubs and sign pre-contract agreements when they have six months or less to run.

Simpson seems resigned to moving on, while Okazaki is believed to prefer to stay in Europe, with a possible move to Italy or Spain.

Benaloune is not in the Premier League squad while 34-year-old Morgan has said he will assess his options towards the end of the season.

However, it will be a very different story for the players who still have one more year to run, and there are six players who will enter their final season on their contracts next season.

Eldin Jakupovic, Daniel Amartey, Papy Mendy, Hamza Choudhury, Andy King and Marc Albrighton will be out of contract in June 2020 and City are expected to offer contracts to several of them, especially youngsters Hamza Choudhury and Daniel Amartey, when he has recovered from his ankle injury.

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Manager Claude Puel has repeatedly referred to Choudhury as the future of the club and is expected to offer him a long-term deal.

Mendy’s City career looked over last season but his history with Puel in France has led to a rejuvenation in his career in the Premier League, while Albrighton is still only 28 and in the prime of his career.

City’s longest serving player, King, is not expected to be offered a new deal after falling out of favour under Puel. Having been left out of the Premier League squad, the Wales international is set to leave the club if an appropriate opportunity arises for the club stalwart, while Jakupovic has expressed his unhappiness with his lack of first team action and is now third choice behind Kasper Schmeichel and Danny Ward.

 

 

 

[Foxxed]

Sounds like either Silva or Iborra will be off and Hamza will step in for cover. I can't see us selling Elder since Fuchs is off unless we plan on buying a replacement left back.

[LCCFox96]

Think that answers all questions for people hoping for signings.  

 

I can see one player being added if someone of real quality becomes available but it will, again, be a window dictated by our need to prioritise outgoings. How much Vichai's passing affects the business done is really the question overhanging that because the club might feel it is inappropriate to move certain players on in light of this.

[StriderHiryu]

Sounds right to me, players out not players in. We still have too many players and are mid way through a regeneration project. I think we actually have a very enviable position in that because our team is decent enough to not go down, bringing through the next generation is actually a luxury we have, and I think we should take it! I know it's frustrating for many, but I really feel like our players are gradually getting better, and they are all very young.

I have a feeling Wes might be given a 1 year extension or "pay as you play" deal, possibly as player / coach. Whether or not he would take that up I don't know, but I think that Wes and especially Kasper will be with the club post playing career in some capacity. I actually think one or both may end up being U21 mananager or even our main manager in 5-10 years. Ditto with Cambiasso too actually.

Simmo, King, Benny, Shinji, Fuchs, Silva and Iborra I think will all be off eventually, though many not until the summer.

[MC Prussian]

Definitely need an oomph factor signing in midfield to assist Maddison with the play going forward, another winger for the right side of the pitch (I'm still not convinced by Ghezzal, who continues to come across as a panic signing last summer) and potentially a striker to take some weight off Vardy's and Iheanacho's shoulders and one that adds competition.

 

Might also be the transfer window where Fuchs is leaving the club for good after three and a half years, so a new left-back may be on the horizon, too.

 

But it's the January transfer window, so little will change.

[Lovejoy]

1 hour ago, Foxxed said:

Sounds like either Silva or Iborra will be off and Hamza will step in for cover. I can't see us selling Elder since Fuchs is off unless we plan on buying a replacement left back.

The thing about this is that any new left back is not going to displace Chilwell, so is it worth paying good money for a benchwarmer? Elder might actually get a chance.

[Foxxed]

34 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

Sounds right to me, players out not players in. We still have too many players and are mid way through a regeneration project. I think we actually have a very enviable position in that because our team is decent enough to not go down, bringing through the next generation is actually a luxury we have, and I think we should take it! I know it's frustrating for many, but I really feel like our players are gradually getting better, and they are all very young.

I have a feeling Wes might be given a 1 year extension or "pay as you play" deal, possibly as player / coach. Whether or not he would take that up I don't know, but I think that Wes and especially Kasper will be with the club post playing career in some capacity. I actually think one or both may end up being U21 mananager or even our main manager in 5-10 years. Ditto with Cambiasso too actually.

Simmo, King, Benny, Shinji, Fuchs, Silva and Iborra I think will all be off eventually, though many not until the summer.

I know we love him but is there any indication he wants to come back as a coach? He did turn down a deal to stay with us.

Edited 16 November 2018 by Foxxed

[Tringfox]

Id like Moses and Fabregas on loan until the end of the season, both proven at premier level and not getting much game time at Chelsea. 

[RonnieTodger]

Wouldn't give new contracts to any of those 5. We all know Fuchs is off anyway (bit pointless him still being here tbh), and as much as I love Wes Morgan I hope he gets a goodbye towards the end of the season. 

[baldeagle]

13 minutes ago, Tringfox said:

Id like Moses and Fabregas on loan until the end of the season, both proven at premier level and not getting much game time at Chelsea. 

Never going to happen already stated we have too many midfielders why would we sign more plus it doesn’t go along with Puels ethos of young players 

[Dickov22]

For crying out loud. It was obvious in the summer Vardy needed more support and it’s been evident so far this season. We need another striker. Please. 

[Tringfox]

1 minute ago, baldeagle said:

Never going to happen already stated we have too many midfielders why would we sign more plus it doesn’t go along with Puels ethos of young players 

I understand but we desperately need some creativity in the middle of the park!

[BrokenRecord]

I'd be very surprised if he doesn't pick up a big, strong Target Man. His whole game plan seems to be overloading the wide areas with Chillwell and Ricardo overlapping, and then getting the ball into the box. However, with Vardy it just doesn't seem to work as he's not gonna beat most defenders in the air. I think he'll stick with Mendy and Ndidi for his mid partnership. Seems like he wants the creativity to come from the Front 4, with support from the full backs, so in his system the midfielders will play a more reserved defensive role.

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, LCCFox96 said:

Think that answers all questions for people hoping for signings.  

 

I can see one player being added if someone of real quality becomes available but it will, again, be a window dictated by our need to prioritise outgoings. How much Vichai's passing affects the business done is really the question overhanging that because the club might feel it is inappropriate to move certain players on in light of this.

We are still short up front and then short of quality out wide. All other areas we are probably ok in and it's a case of trying to move a few on. We are 2 injuries away from being in diabolical condition up front. The supposed big squad we have is unbalanced, so we still need a couple coming in but 4-5 moving out.

[MPH]

Sell everyone and start again.

[LCCFox96]

5 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

We are still short up front and then short of quality out wide. All other areas we are probably ok in and it's a case of trying to move a few on. We are 2 injuries away from being in diabolical condition up front. The supposed big squad we have is unbalanced, so we still need a couple coming in but 4-5 moving out.

 

I personally agree with that. Think everyone can see the weaker areas of the team and it's just a case of what the club can do with incomings balancing the need for players to move on. I just don't see us conclusively addressing the issues in this window, rather than believing they aren't there. 

[StriderHiryu]

1 hour ago, Foxxed said:

I know we love him but is there any indication he wants to come back as a coach? He did turn down a deal to stay with us.

He turned up at the Burnley match, and he was given a great reception by the fans. He has also said on several occasions that he thought staying up with Leicester was like winning a trophy. Also though he didn't sign on, perhaps it was a physical thing? The Premier League is tough and perhaps at his age he didn't think he had it in the tank to play one more season? Look at players like Iborra and Silva who are much younger but struggle with it. Lesterban was so good because his mind was two steps ahead of the game, but his body was clearly starting to go. (That said, I am convinced in his prime he would have ripped the league a new one. You could always see his class and he was a treble winner with Inter).

He is not currently a manager, but is doing some coaching. And I think Leicester is super appealing as a job for any up and coming coach. Great fans, great board, funds available, promising squad with potential, etc. Could be Cambiasso but I bet even the Lampards, Terrys, Gerrards, Giggs of this world would snap it up in a heartbeat. Personally though if we ever go down that route (and I imagine one day we will), I hope it is someone that has some affinity to the club, hence Cambiasso, Morgan, Kasper, etc.

 

 

Edited 16 November 2018 by StriderHiryu

[Haywood_6]

3 hours ago, Foxxed said:

Sounds like either Silva or Iborra will be off and Hamza will step in for cover. I can't see us selling Elder since Fuchs is off unless we plan on buying a replacement left back.

Hamza should not be allowed to play until he shaves that snot catcher off his face 

[Hanan96]

1 hour ago, Tringfox said:

Id like Moses and Fabregas on loan until the end of the season, both proven at premier level and not getting much game time at Chelsea. 

Moses maybe but fabregas unfortunately, if listed for loan, will attract bigger sides as well. 

[NotTheMarketLeader]

4 hours ago, davieG said:

City manager admits it is tough task to keep all of his players happy

 

The January transfer window is vital for Leicester City manager Claude Puel as he seeks to rebalance his squad.

City have 28 senior players and with 10 in the stands on any given matchday, Puel faces a tough task to keep everyone happy.

The Frenchman used last January to offload strikers from City’s top-heavy squad, Ahmed Musa, Leo Ulloa and Islam Slimani all heading out on loan, but this time, defence and the midfield will likely be his target areas.

Yohan Benalouane, Callum Elder and Andy King are not registered in the Premier League squad, and have not featured this season, while Danny Simpson and Adrien Silva are struggling for game-time too.

Adrien Silva and Leicester City fringe players will get more game-time soon, says Claude Puel
Goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic and winger Fousseni Diabate have also spent much of the season on the sidelines, along with the injured Matty James.

“I know, sometimes, it’s a lot of players in the squad,” said Puel. “It’s a response for the transfer window. We will see if we can continue to give game-time for some players, or if it will be better for some players to go on loan or leave the club.

“I think it’s important always for me to try to have a good balance for the team.

“It’s my work, my job, my management, but it will be easier if we can have a good balance in the team, in the squad, to manage all these players.

“For example, we have had a lot of strikers, a lot of midfielders, I think too much without the good balance in the squad.

“The transfer window is a period to find this balance. Because after we have to manage these players, to give game-time, to keep a positive attitude.

“It’s important to see the dressing room happy and all the players happy to have the possibility to play. It’s important to manage all this and maintain all the players with a positive attitude.

“When a player is not in the squad, he is not happy. It’s normal.”

However, Puel is pleased with the focus of his out-of-favour players, who may get some pitch-time before January with plenty of matches over the festive period.

 

 

Leicester City contracts and those that expire this summer

Five players are out of contract next June and six have another year to go. So who will City keep and who will move on?

ByRob TannerLeicester City Editor
06:00, 16 NOV 2018
SPORT

Five members of Leicester City’s Premier League title-winning squad will be out of contract at the end of the season.

Defenders Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan, Yohan Benalouane and Christian Fuchs, plus striker Shinji Okazkai, were all part of the group that made every City fans’ dream come true in 2016, but all five look set to be leaving at the end of this season.

Christian Fuchs has already stated he would not sign a new contract if offered one as he wishes to move to Manhatten and spend more time with his family, while pursuing his career and business interest in the United States.

However, so far none of them have been offered new contracts and new deals now looking increasingly unlikely, as it is rare for clubs wishing to retain players to allow their contracts to run so low as players can talk to other clubs and sign pre-contract agreements when they have six months or less to run.

Simpson seems resigned to moving on, while Okazaki is believed to prefer to stay in Europe, with a possible move to Italy or Spain.

Benaloune is not in the Premier League squad while 34-year-old Morgan has said he will assess his options towards the end of the season.

However, it will be a very different story for the players who still have one more year to run, and there are six players who will enter their final season on their contracts next season.

Eldin Jakupovic, Daniel Amartey, Papy Mendy, Hamza Choudhury, Andy King and Marc Albrighton will be out of contract in June 2020 and City are expected to offer contracts to several of them, especially youngsters Hamza Choudhury and Daniel Amartey, when he has recovered from his ankle injury.

READ MORE
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Leicester City vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha (right) with his brother Apichet after the 0-0 draw with Burnley
Admiration from MOTD pundits
 
An emotional video tribute to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha is played on the big screen at the King Power Stadium
Puel fears over Vichai video tribute
Manager Claude Puel has repeatedly referred to Choudhury as the future of the club and is expected to offer him a long-term deal.

Mendy’s City career looked over last season but his history with Puel in France has led to a rejuvenation in his career in the Premier League, while Albrighton is still only 28 and in the prime of his career.

City’s longest serving player, King, is not expected to be offered a new deal after falling out of favour under Puel. Having been left out of the Premier League squad, the Wales international is set to leave the club if an appropriate opportunity arises for the club stalwart, while Jakupovic has expressed his unhappiness with his lack of first team action and is now third choice behind Kasper Schmeichel and Danny Ward.

 

 

 

He’s already had two transfer windows. How more is he going get before the penny drops that his style of football is not popular.

 

Its supposed to be entertainment ffs.

 

Lets see how good a manager he is by working with the very talented squad he’s got! 

 

Puel out please.?‍♂️

Edited 16 November 2018 by NotTheMarketLeader

[HighPeakFox]

14 minutes ago, NotTheMarketLeader said:

He’s already had two transfer windows. How more is he going get before the penny drops that his style of football is not popular.

 

Its supposed to be entertainment ffs.

 

Lets see how good a manager he is by working with the very talented squad he’s got! 

 

Puel out please.?‍♂️

It's not unpopular with me. 

[UPinCarolina]

We'll see 3 - 4 leave in January, I reckon. Imagine we'll only bring 1 - 2 in at most. Target man, as many have said - and perhaps cover at a wing spot or for the no.10 role as we would be short handed if something were to happen to Maddison that resulted in an extended injury spell.

With a number pushing from the fringes, we ought not to buy unless we are certain there's no one who can come up from below and do the job.

[mozartfox]

3 hours ago, StriderHiryu said:

Sounds right to me, players out not players in. We still have too many players and are mid way through a regeneration project. I think we actually have a very enviable position in that because our team is decent enough to not go down, bringing through the next generation is actually a luxury we have, and I think we should take it! I know it's frustrating for many, but I really feel like our players are gradually getting better, and they are all very young.

I have a feeling Wes might be given a 1 year extension or "pay as you play" deal, possibly as player / coach. Whether or not he would take that up I don't know, but I think that Wes and especially Kasper will be with the club post playing career in some capacity. I actually think one or both may end up being U21 mananager or even our main manager in 5-10 years. Ditto with Cambiasso too actually.

Simmo, King, Benny, Shinji, Fuchs, Silva and Iborra I think will all be off eventually, though many not until the summer.

Wes on the coaching staff fine, but playing next season I hope not as no room for sentiment as was the case with Huth, King , Simpson etc.  We really do need to get the defence sorted, especially if Harry goes in the summer.  As we do indeed have luxury that we should not be involved in a relegation dog-fight, we have the opportunity to give some of the youngsters game time between Jan and May.  That is why I really hope Barnes and Benko are recalled.  Then get the balance right and the wages under control in the summer 2019 window.

[Beechey]

36 minutes ago, NotTheMarketLeader said:

He’s already had two transfer windows. How more is he going get before the penny drops that his style of football is not popular.

 

Its supposed to be entertainment ffs.

 

Lets see how good a manager he is by working with the very talented squad he’s got! 

 

Puel out please.?‍♂️

He's had one proper window where he's been in the job long enough to know intimately the skillset of his players. The first January window was just over two months into the job. You can't expect him to know exactly what he needs after having that short a time in the role. After this January and summer (if he's here after the summer), he really should not be complaining about an imbalanced squad.

Edited 16 November 2018 by Beechey

[StriderHiryu]

1 hour ago, mozartfox said:

Wes on the coaching staff fine, but playing next season I hope not as no room for sentiment as was the case with Huth, King , Simpson etc.  We really do need to get the defence sorted, especially if Harry goes in the summer.  As we do indeed have luxury that we should not be involved in a relegation dog-fight, we have the opportunity to give some of the youngsters game time between Jan and May.  That is why I really hope Barnes and Benko are recalled.  Then get the balance right and the wages under control in the summer 2019 window.

Well you'd assume that we brought in two centre backs knowing that Wes would be moving on and that Maguire leaving was a possibility. So I think we actually planned that one out quite nicely.

 

If Morgan did stay, I could see it in similar to Fuchs this season role where he's wheeled out in the cups, and essentially there just in case we have a major injury to a first team player.