Projecting Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City XI Post-January Transfers – Opinion
Leicester City Poised for Rare January Spending to Escape Relegation Battle
Leicester’s January Transfer Targets and Potential Line-Up
Leicester City’s defensive struggles this season highlight Ruud van Nistelrooy’s urgent need for reinforcements at the back.
With a leaky defense and key injuries, the Foxes must strengthen several positions during the January transfer window.
Areas in Need of Strengthening
1. Defense
Leicester’s backline has been consistently vulnerable, making a solid, ball-playing centre-back a priority for van Nistelrooy.
2. Wide Options
The injury to Abdul Fatawu has left Leicester short of right-sided wingers, necessitating the addition of an effective replacement.
3. Striker
With Jamie Vardy’s age catching up to him, signing a young, dynamic forward has become essential to sustain the Foxes’ attack.
Three Potential Signings for January
1. Pascal Struijk (Leeds United)
A 25-year-old ball-playing centre-back, Struijk is among the Championship’s best defenders. With Leeds potentially needing to sell players due to Financial Fair Play constraints—similar to Leicester’s own sale of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall—Struijk could be a realistic target for the Foxes.
2. Nicolas Kühn (Celtic)
To replace Fatawu, Leicester should consider Kühn, who has been in sensational form this season.
The Celtic winger boasts 22 goal involvements in 20 matches, including a stunning Champions League goal against RB Leipzig, making him a standout candidate.
3. Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Ferguson, one of Europe’s most promising young strikers, is reportedly available for loan.
Securing him would be a major coup for Leicester, providing a reliable rotation option for Vardy.
To complete the deal, Leicester may need to terminate an existing loan, likely that of Odsonne Édouard.
Leicester’s Potential XI Post-January
If van Nistelrooy successfully signs these three players, Leicester’s starting XI could see significant upgrades.
While Vardy might not be replaced outright, Ferguson’s inclusion would allow for rotation to manage the veteran striker’s workload.
Alternatively, van Nistelrooy might employ a traditional 4-4-2 formation, integrating both Vardy and Ferguson in attack, a system he already uses during defensive phases.
These additions would address Leicester’s vulnerabilities and provide a much-needed boost for the second half of the season.
