Keep your balance, Rodgers
BRENDAN RODGERS will have to balance the books during the January transfer window.
Leicester City’s boss can go spending – but only if his incomings and outgoings even themselves out.
And while new imports are not being ruled out, there will be no star arrivals at the King Power Stadium – unless one of their own big-hitters can be offloaded.
Leicester aren’t cutting back – but they will not be among those investing heavily as the pandemic has hit the club hard on a number of fronts during the past 10 months.
The club was already committed to a
£100million training base at Charnwood – and, according to the last set of accounts, had used facilities available to owners King Power to finance the 185-acre development.
In those figures, Leicester also trumpeted the doubling of their commercial activities to almost £30m – that has taken a huge hit – and the lack of gate receipts has added to the shortfall.
In the background, there have been changes too.
The Srivaddhanaprabha family which has bankrolled the club in the past draws its money from the duty-free shops at Thailand’s airports – and with international travel and tourism also heavily affected by the downturn, they too are feeling the pinch.
It all adds up to a potent mix which has restricted the level to which Rodgers can wheel and deal during the next few weeks.
The former Celtic boss does have some options. Former England Under-21 international Demarai Gray is out of contract in six months and is one who is likely to leave – if not now, then almost certainly in the summer.