leicester city

Enzo Maresca will drop some players for the transfer window

Published

11 months ago

January 3, 2024

The January window is open and Maresca hopes to improve the squad, but players need to leave first, and it could be any of those currently at the club, the manager has said

Strange things can happen in the transfer market with Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca insisting any of the 25 players in his squad could leave before the end of January.

The winter window is now open and City are hoping to do business, Maresca previously saying he knows “what we need”. He has also outlined that City can only bring in players if a member of their current squad departs to free up a spot in their permitted 25-man line-up.

He expects there will be players who are looking to leave in search of more football. Goalkeeper Danny Ward, who has fallen to third on the pecking order and has not played a competitive game this season, may be one of those. That’s especially with his Wales manager Rob Page urging his players to get minutes and build form ahead of their Euro 2024 play-off in March.

However, Maresca is not willing to predict what might happen over the course of the month. He said: “I can understand that players who are not involved are not happy. That’s normal. They work every day to play football.

“Danny is working fantastic. He’s very professional. Even if he’s not playing, he’s doing a fantastic job. Now, what happens in January, I don’t know. He’s working very good, but since we started, we are playing with Mads (Hermansen) or Jakub (Stolarczyk). I know it’s difficult, but it is what it is.

“The 25 players we have here, the moment the transfer window opens, anything can happen. It’s not just about Danny, it’s about all 25. I would like to keep them, but sometimes the window is strange.”

Maresca has previously hinted he’d like to sign another left-footed defender, with only one in the squad in the form of Callum Doyle. Albeit, James Justin has filled in well there while the Manchester City loanee has been out injured.

They could also resume their search for a new attacking midfielder. In the summer, City had tried to sign another Man City youngster in James McAtee, but were pipped to his signature by Sheffield United.

City are likely to be limited to just one more loan signing. Championship clubs can have a maximum of five in any matchday squad, and City already have four who regularly feature in their 11 or on their bench in Doyle, Cesare Casadei, Abdul Fatawu, and Yunus Akgun.