Rodgers seeking defender on loan to plug the gap in ‘critical’ position
VESTERGAARD NOW THE ONLY FIT SENIOR CENTRE-HALF AVAILABLE
LEICESTER City are seeking a centre-back on loan to provide support in a “critical” position.
Time is “pressing” for City to find a new defender, and compromises may have to be made, said manager Brendan Rodgers.
With Jonny Evans ruled out until April following a hamstring operation, Caglar Soyuncu and Wesley Fofana still out injured, and with Daniel Amartey and Wilfred Ndidi at the
Africa Cup of Nations, Jannik Vestergaard is City’s only fit senior centre-half.
The club are now working furiously to identify available centre-backs in the loan market and bring one in.
“It’s certainly something we need to look at,” Rodgers said at his prematch press conference yesterday afternoon.
“The players who have been filling in are away at the Africa Cup of Nations, so it doesn’t give us a lot of cover. The club are working very hard to see what we can do. “There’s not an endless pot of money but we have to look at that and see what we can bring in.”
It is the priority for City in this January transfer window, with Rodgers calling the position “critical” in its importance to a team’s success. And to get a player in quickly, the manager added that compromises may be needed over their profile. “There are players we will look at,” Rodgers said.
“January is always a difficult market but certainly for centre-halves, it’s a key position for any team.
“In order to be consistent, your two centre-halves are critical for you. We’ve seen that this season.
“Our results have been inconsistent and we’ve had lots of changes in our defensive structure. That is important, for any club.
“There is time, but it’s more pressing for us. We have to see what we can do.
“Somewhere along the line you have to compromise really to get the type and profile you need for the team.
“But also we know we have guys coming back at the beginning of February that can support and help us as well.
“We’re working very hard behind the scenes to try to provide that cover that we need.”
Centre-half is not the only position where City are short on players, with Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka’s injuries and Kelechi Iheanacho’s
In order to be consistent, your two centre-halves are criticial. We’ve seen that this season
Brendan Rodgers
international commitments meaning they are currently without a recognised striker. But they will not be dipping into the loan market to bring one in.
Rodgers added: “No, we will have to juggle it around with the players we have plus we’ll have Patson coming back hopefully for Burnley (on January 15) and Kels coming back at the end of the month so we will work with the players we have.”