Leicester City boss Marti Cifuentes has offered a frank assessment of the club’s position in the transfer market with just 10 days remaining in the January window and no new faces added at the King Power Stadium.
City are one of only five Championship sides yet to make a signing this month. Their cautious approach follows a summer in which they brought in five players, made up of three loan deals and two free transfers, as the club continued to work within Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Although Leicester have eased the wage bill slightly by cancelling Julian Carranza’s loan and allowing Wout Faes to join Monaco on a temporary basis, reinforcements have still failed to materialise.
Speaking on Friday, Cifuentes downplayed expectations of major business before the deadline and stressed how much the club’s circumstances have changed since Enzo Maresca led them to the Championship title two years ago.
“We are working to get the help we want,” the Spaniard said. “As a manager, especially with the recent injuries, you would always like to add players who can support what we are trying to do.
“I’m not going to complain about players not arriving yet. I’ve spoken a lot about togetherness, and that applies inside the club as well. Everyone understands the restrictions we are operating under.
“The situation now is very different to two years ago, when Leicester could spend more than anyone else in the league. We are in a completely different reality and we have to accept that.”
Cifuentes admitted frustration would not change the circumstances and said his focus is on making sure everyone understands the club’s position.
“It doesn’t help to be angry about it,” he added. “What matters is understanding where we are and communicating that clearly. We are operating under restrictions that are not easy.
“We need players who can genuinely improve us, not signings for the sake of it. Finding the right profiles in January is difficult, but I remain hopeful we can get the support we need.”
Leicester have already played five matches this month, and Cifuentes acknowledged that bringing players in earlier would have been ideal, but insists he must now make the most of the resources available.
The Foxes have been most strongly linked with GAIS striker Ibrahim Diabate, with a new forward seen as a key target. However, Jordan James’ recent injury could shift priorities, meaning a creative midfielder may be preferred if the club can only secure one addition before the window closes.