City in a pickle on transfers so boss must get the best out of core squad
RODGERS STILL WAITING FOR FIRST SUMMER SIGNING
IF it wasn’t clear before, it certainly is now: Leicester City are in a pickle.
They’re the only Premier League team who haven’t made a single signing this summer, and that situation does not look like changing imminently.
Before bringing players in, they need players out, and as yet, there are no takers. City’s business is at a standstill.
From the moment the first transfer-themed question came Brendan Rodgers’ way after the 3-3 draw with OH Leuven, he cut a downbeat figure.
There was a sense of helplessness as he delivered the reality of City’s situation.
He had big plans for this window and had voiced those to supporters.
The first cycle of his tenure had reached its natural conclusion.
Fresh impetus was needed so City could start anew and enjoy another sublime three years.
But with no new blood, this coming season so far feels like a continuation of the previous cycle.
What they won’t want is for that to transform into a downward spiral.
It shows how a few minor slip-ups here and there, a slight dip in squad management and planning can amalgamate into a problem like this.
In hindsight, City have handed out a few contracts that are slightly too long and made a few dud signings.
This summer, they’re feeling the effects.
Some of the problems are out of their control.
The pandemic has reduced the wealth of all clubs in a world where the money was already concentrated at a few super clubs.
It means City are at the end of the chain.
They can’t make signings because they need to sell their fringe players first.
But they can’t do that because the clubs who would be interested in buying them don’t have money because they need to sell fringe players to clubs who don’t have money, and so on.
With the very elite immune to this sort of trading, it means those clubs on the second rung in world football, like City, are in a bind.
The solution in previous years has been to get the big teams to pay big money for their stars.
That’s worked for Aston Villa, with Jack Grealish, and Leeds, with Kalvin Phillips, recently. But that’s not at City happening either.
Previously, when City have let a big name go, it has felt like it has been on their terms.
Now, the only players in the squad who would fetch £50 million or more are James Maddison and Wesley Fofana, but the club aren’t in a position to cope with either of their departures.
So here they are, staring at a window where very little happens.
As the next six weeks tick down, the dominos should fall more quickly and allow City to get some business done, but already Rodgers is admitting he won’t get everything he wants.
That he outlined his hopes so early on in the year now feels far from ideal.
There’s no way of hiding he is unhappy with the squad the way it is.
That adds another problem, as players may end up sticking around to play under a manager that had hoped they would leave.
While Rodgers has said he won’t be going to war with the club over the lack of transfer activity, he did say there would have to be a “different expectation” if the deals don’t get done.
But now is not the time to be taking this approach and downplaying what can be achieved.
Because if you look at what City do have, it’s more than the core of a squad that two seasons ago navigated injuries and a European campaign to win the FA Cup and finish just outside the Champions League spots.
The 19 most-used players from the 2020-21 season are all still at the club.
And now, to add to that, they have Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Patson
Daka, and players like James Maddison who have made huge strides since then.
So Rodgers has one choice left and that to do what he is very good at.
On the training pitch, improving players, is where he likes to be, and the transfer inactivity shouldn’t stop him doing that.
He is also very good at making players feel needed and important, even when they’re on the edge of the first team.
That, in turn, helps keep the squad harmonious and happy.
By doing all that, Rodgers can still get this team performing well.
By focusing on what City have, rather than what they haven’t, and on what they can control, rather than what they can’t, this transfer window does not have to define how the upcoming season goes.