There is less than a week remaining for Leicester City to conduct transfer business ahead of a busy and vital four-month stretch of continuous action.
For Leicester City fans, this summer window has featured numerous departures and considerable uncertainty regarding the club’s financial status, with Marti Cifuentes only securing the services of veteran Asmir Begovic thus far since taking over as the Foxes manager in July.
Several high-profile names have, and are still anticipated to exit the King Power Stadium between now and the transfer deadline of 7pm on September 1st, making it essential that the East Midlands team replace those and enhance their roster with the caliber needed to launch an immediate sustainable promotion effort in the Championship as a newly-relegated side.
With that in mind, Football League World have pinpointed two players who should be at the top of Leicester’s transfer list before next Monday’s cutoff.
David Datro Fofana, Chelsea:
Leicester may have secured two of their opening three Championship matches against Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic, but it must be noted that their seasoned and natural centre-forward options of Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka have appeared lackluster.
Ayew, in particular, has averaged nearly four shots across those games yet recorded an xG of just 0.5, indicating further quality and depth are necessary.
The club have been connected with a potential loan-to-buy move for Idrissa Gueye of Metz, but a deal for the promising Senegalese forward is likely to be affected by the EFL’s restrictions on the club due to breaching Profitability and Sustainability regulations, meaning no transfer fees can be paid according to Alan Nixon.
In that scenario, the Foxes must target players like David Datro Fofana on loan from Chelsea, in a move that would also aid the 22-year-old’s development away from Stamford Bridge.
The forward provides swift movement and strength, which can be a deadly combination of traits at this level when facing opposing centre-backs, and he would certainly receive regular playing time if one of the aforementioned Ayew or Daka departs in the near future.
Amid fitness concerns, the three-time Ivory Coast international scored twice in nine matches on loan at Turkish side Goztepe last term, and was linked with a possible transfer to the second tier with Hull City and Sunderland last summer after netting four times and registering an additional assist in just 15 Premier League games for Burnley during the Clarets’ relegation season of 2023/24.
If the club’s finances are restricted, it could be a straightforward decision for Cifuentes to arrange a loan move where no additional fees are paid for his services throughout the season.
Calvin Stengs, Feyenoord:
Another area where the East Midlands team is severely lacking in depth and experience is the attacking midfield position, and worries are likely to increase in that regard as Bilal El Khannouss appears set to leave the King Power Stadium before the window closes.
Teenager Louis Page was chosen to start against Charlton last time out in an advanced midfield role, but if the club is serious about recruiting top-quality performers to support a promotion push, the acquisition of Calvin Stengs is essential amid reports that Leicester face competition from Pisa and Celtic for the Dutchman’s signature.
The 26-year-old is no longer in Robin van Persie’s plans at Feyenoord after an injury-plagued last campaign saw him feature just 16 times across all competitions after proving to be an ‘assist king’ in 2023/24, providing 16 times and scoring eight in all competitions for his teammates as the Rotterdam side failed to retain the Eredivisie title.
Stengs also brings experience of eight caps for the Netherlands and stints in France with OGC Nice and Belgium during a title-winning loan spell with Royal Antwerp to draw upon.
If he can replicate his form from two seasons ago in the Championship, those in the centre-forward roles could greatly benefit from his contributions as well as an equally notable individual goal tally, which is precisely what Foxes supporters witnessed from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall under former manager Enzo Maresca during their title-winning season.