Leicester City Star Likely to Leave in January Following Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Recent Decision – Opinion
The January Transfer Window Opens as Ruud van Nistelrooy Faces Key Decisions
Leicester City are in urgent need of defensive reinforcements as their current options, including James Justin, have struggled significantly this season.
Several names have been linked to bolster the Foxes’ backline, with Valentin Gomez emerging as a potential target.
Additionally, Adilson Malanda, though lacking European football experience, has also caught Leicester’s attention.
While incoming transfers are crucial for Leicester’s fight to avoid relegation, the club must also address the futures of several players.
Daniel Iversen, Danny Ward, and Jamie Vardy all have contracts expiring in 2025, meaning they can negotiate pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs starting January 1.
The situation surrounding striker Odsonne Edouard has also drawn attention.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Position on Odsonne Edouard Becomes Clear
Edouard has struggled since joining Leicester on a season-long loan from Crystal Palace during the summer transfer window.
Despite making eight appearances across all competitions, he has failed to score and has accumulated just 229 minutes of Premier League action.
Crystal Palace is reportedly open to selling Edouard if Leicester ends his loan early. This scenario seems increasingly likely, especially after manager Ruud van Nistelrooy’s recent decisions.
In Leicester’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, striker Jordan Ayew was unavailable due to suspension.
Facundo Buonanotte stepped into the starting lineup and performed well, but the team had limited attacking options on the bench.
Despite this, Van Nistelrooy left Edouard out of the matchday squad for the sixth time since taking over from Steve Cooper.
Why Leicester Should Cut Edouard’s Loan Short
Van Nistelrooy’s repeated exclusion of Edouard suggests the striker does not feature in his plans, making a January departure logical for all parties.
If Leicester and Crystal Palace agree to terminate the 26-year-old’s loan, it would free up a Premier League loan slot for the Foxes to bring in a more impactful player.
Although signing another attacker is possible, Leicester’s primary focus should remain on strengthening their defense.
With one of their defenders reportedly having a significant weakness, limited replacement options are available, highlighting the need for a defensive loan signing to stabilize the backline.
Resolving these issues will be critical as Leicester aims to turn their season around.
