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Leicester City: To buy or not to buy in January transfer window?

| 22.12.2015
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Matt Haynes | December 21, 2015

Leicester City are 10/1 third favourites with Coral to win the Premier League and all of a sudden are starting to look like a realistic prospect.

Foxes to go hunting?

January is absolutely crucial. Bigger teams than the Foxes have folded following being in first place at Christmas and usually the winter window has had something to do with this.

It is hard to believe that 12 months ago Leicester were bottom of the Premier League. What is more astonishing, is that they are now top, with pretty much the same squad of players, minus Esteban Cambiasso.

Star players Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are attracting the interest of a number clubs and the Foxes’ resolve could well be put to the test if lucrative bids are made.

Swansea City v Leicester City - Barclays Premier League - Liberty Stadium

However, if Leicester are going to win the league, January could well be a key month. They also, handily have substantial cash reserves and are now in a position to attract quality.

Ranieri to tinker?

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri is renowned for altering his team selections, having earned the name ‘Tinkerman’ while in charge of Chelsea.

Soccer - Capital One Cup - Fourth Round - Hull City v Leicester City - KC Stadium

This season, though, he has been remarkably consistent. When quizzed about January recently he could not have been more dismissive.

“I have a very good team, and a very good team spirit; they are friendly with each and they help each other,” Ranieri revealed. “If you get one, two three [new] players you might break the dressing room.

“I have managed a lot of top teams and there were a lot of great players. Maybe here there aren’t those great players but there is a team with great spirit. And I believe there are great players inside them, which nobody saw before. To do this is ok for one, two three matches not for six months.”

This suggests that Vardy and Mahrez will stay at least until the summer, though, for the former, having come from non-league football, a lucrative move to Manchester United along with a huge signing bonus would certainly test his resolve.

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Author

Matt Haynes

A long-suffering Leeds fan, Matt studied Sports Journalism at university, and has a plethora of multi-industry experience. Having worked on behalf of multiple hedge funds and top-tier investment banks in executive search, he has also had a stint with the BBC and the Press Association. Outside of work, he pursues entrepreneurial activities and likes to keep fit.
Although he has interviewed current England manager Roy Hodgson as well as Rafa Benitez and a number of other names, he is honoured to have spent time in the company of Gordon Banks. Matt enjoys cultivating long-lasting professional and personal relationships, is solution orientated, and supports Coral’s sports content provision.