Exclusive: Sky Sports Pundit Issues Major Leicester City Transfer Warning as Likely EFL Return Nears

Leicester City clinched the Championship title under Enzo Maresca last season, amassing an impressive 97 points and fending off strong competition from Ipswich Town and Leeds United.

 

However, their Premier League preparations took a hit when Maresca departed for Chelsea in the summer, leaving the Foxes in a vulnerable position before the campaign even began.

 

Steve Cooper, formerly of Swansea City and Nottingham Forest, stepped in as his replacement, but his tenure was short-lived.

 

Many doubted whether Cooper could truly get the best out of the squad, though his struggles were largely a reflection of Leicester’s widely criticized transfer policy rather than his own shortcomings.

 

Rather than making significant reinforcements to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, Leicester largely stuck with the squad that earned promotion.

 

This conservative approach in the transfer market has been widely condemned, as key summer signings like Bobby Decordova-Reid, Oliver Skipp, and Bilal El Khannouss have failed to make the desired impact.

 

As a result, Leicester now find themselves staring at an immediate return to the Championship.

 

 

With just four wins all season and a disappointing tally of 17 points, the Foxes are firmly entrenched in the relegation zone.

 

With only nine matches remaining, Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s side sit nine points adrift of 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, making survival an increasingly distant prospect.

 

If their form does not improve, Leicester seem destined to return to the second tier alongside Southampton and Ipswich—two teams that earned promotion with them last season.

 

Don Goodman Issues Major Warning on Leicester’s Transfer Policy

Speaking to Football League World, pundit Don Goodman pinpointed Leicester’s recruitment strategy as a key factor in their likely relegation.

 

Goodman, who covered their 3-0 defeat to Manchester United—Leicester’s fifth consecutive league loss—was particularly struck by how many of their starting players were still from last season’s squad.

 

He argued that the club’s transfer policy has been inadequate and must improve if they are to bounce back quickly.

 

“It really does seem inevitable that Leicester will be playing Championship football next season,” Goodman told FLW.

 

“They’re breaking records for all the wrong reasons—losing streaks, and worse still, failing to score. I believe they’re up to seven games without a goal now.

 

“I covered their game against Manchester United on Sunday, so I examined their transfers and recruitment strategy. It hasn’t worked.

 

Ten of the eleven players who started against United were already at the club last season, though two of them—Boubakary Soumare and Victor Kristiansen—were out on loan.

 

“That alone highlights how poor their transfer policy has been. It simply hasn’t worked.

 

Now, there will be even more upheaval, and Leicester’s ability to return to the Premier League at the first attempt will be defined by how well they handle their transfer business this summer.

 

“We also don’t know if Ruud Van Nistelrooy will stay on as manager. From an outsider’s perspective, it’ll be fascinating to see how Leicester navigates this situation.”

 

Leicester Must Overhaul Their Squad This Summer

Relegation could provide Leicester with a much-needed opportunity to reset their squad, trim high-wage earners, and rebuild for the future.

 

Given their struggles this season, such a squad overhaul seems necessary.

 

The current squad has an average age of 26.3 years, and a younger, fresher group could be beneficial moving forward.

 

However, the more pressing concern is Leicester’s bloated wage bill.

 

According to Capology, a site that estimates player salaries, Leicester’s annual wage expenditure stands at £65,676,000. Despite this heavy investment, the club has seen little return on the pitch.

 

Shockingly, Leicester spends more on wages than clubs like Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford, Bournemouth, and even third-placed Nottingham Forest.

 

Such an inflated wage structure will not be sustainable in the Championship, especially given the club’s financial situation.

 

Several high earners have failed to justify their salaries this season, reinforcing the need for a significant squad rebuild.

 

If Leicester hope to make an immediate return to the Premier League, they must take a more aggressive and strategic approach to recruitment.

 

Anything less could see them stuck in the second tier for far longer than they intend.