Leicester City confirmed transfers and likely moves, Arsenal, Fenerbahce and Fulham involved

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Claude Puel opened up about possible changes in the squad this January, with more departures likely than signing any new players, but it could depend on the logistic and don’t be surprised if a move or two will go through.

Today we can read stories about Danny Simpson, who is likely to jump ship and travel either back to London and join Fulham, or go up north for a second spell with Newcastle who he played for from 2009 to 2013.

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Callum Elder has accepted a chance to join Ipswich Town on loan, which looks as a very good move for the young Australian, who is able to get first team football at Portman Road and exhale his level further.

Fousseni Diabate is today reported to be a target for several clubs abroad as his chances at Leicester City has been limited and Claude Puel might conclude and let the youngster move on. Caen and Fenerbahce are reported to be possible destinations.

Harvey Barnes and Filip Benkovic looks likely to be staying with their current loan clubs West Bromwich and Celtic. Both players have been impressive and been regulars in the first teams, which is what a loan should be all about.

Wes Morgan is looking for options, but it seems as if he will be ready to sign a new one year deal. Christian Fuchs looks certain to stay out his contract period, and the same looks likely for Shinji Okazaki.

Adrien Silva and Andy King are two players that could be leaving. Silva linked with Sporting Lisbon and King being in the eye of both Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion. Stoke and Birmingham could also be in the line to try to bring in King.

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Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny, is a target that could be possible to see in a Leicester City shirt. He looks overlooked by Unai Emery and far from a certainty in their team but he is a quality player, and a real contender to Mendy and Ndidi.

If Leicester decides to go for Elneny that could also be the end to a future for Vicente Iborra at Leicester, and his possible return to Sevilla or a move to Malaga, could be happening.

Our hot, cool and cold list is as always updated with the latest rumours about players linked with a possible move to Leicester City. New names appear day by day as the UK media publish their stories.

December 31, 2018 0

Leicester 0, Cardiff 1, positives and negatives, player ratings and match report

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A must win after two fantastic results v. Chelsea and Man City, but the line-up was changed and also the formation, Wes Morgan out with “sickness” and to see Hamza just dropped all together was difficult to understand.

Puel is a bold person, and he refused to take into consideration the impact of Hamza Choudhury in the last three games, were he has been absolutely fantastic. To see him totally dropped was a massive blow.

Leicester have played almost all season without Hamza, so to go back to the old system and introduce Demarai Gray again would probably not be that big a change, but it makes you really wonder a bit about the structure, the plan and the idea behind it all.

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Leicester were the better team in this game and the possession made this a totally different game than those against the top teams. A number of good half chances was what we all got, but nothing concrete.

Cardiff battled really hard, and they are a team that will try to make it difficult for opponents. We all hoped for something to happen in 2nd half after a difficult first half firstly finding a solution with a totally different opponent.

Leicester had enough chances during 2nd half to be able to kill this game off and when sub Rachid Ghezzal found James Maddison with a clever pass, and Maddison was taken down and rewarded a penalty, everyone thought the winning run should just continue.

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James Maddison took the penalty himself, because Vardy had been taken off, but the best player on the field, Cardiff goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, saved a poor penalty from the Leicester midfielder, and this game looked a certain draw after that.

Ghezzal went from being a positive contributer to a “bad guy” with an awful pass straight to a Cardiff player instead of just playing the ball in the air forward. This was a great gift to Victor Camarasa who scored with a perfect curled ball in the right top corner.

The two “big shock wins” against Chelsea and Man City was now followed by a dreadful defeat v. Cardiff City, a team that should be defeated at King Power Stadium any day of the week. The fact that all three points were picked up away against Cardiff, makes it even more “citrus” to accept this terrible end to a game that could have been won.

Positives:
- Playing with possession and getting a penalty
- A relatively good performance and close to a new win
- No injuries, no yellows
Negatives:
- Choudhury, why take him out, he has been brilliant
- Vardy not able to play as well as we would have liked
- Missed penalty
- Ghezzal a defensive threat
- Not able ot convert possession into results

Player Ratings: Schmeichel 6. Pereira 6, Chilwell 6, Soyuncu 6, Maguire 7, Ndidi 6, Mendy 6, Albrighton 5, Vardy 5, Maddison 6, Subs: Ghezzal, Iheanacho, Okazaki,

Match Stats: H/A

Possession: 57 / 43
Corners: 10 / 4
Shots on target: 2 / 7
Shots wide: 6 / 3
Fouls: 14 / 15
Offsides: 0 / 1

December 30, 2018 0

Leicester v Cardiff, Match Preview, Fans View, Who’s in, Who’s out

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Demarai Gray scored the winner away to Cardiff earlier in the year and this time Leicester are clear favorites and nothing else than three points would be a failure. Two wins against Chelsea and Man City should build confidence and really make this another great possible win for Leicester.

Cardiff is a hard battling group and they fight for survival, and typically a team in the spirit of Neil Warnock. A type of a sinking ship that needs to get safe into the harbor and hopefully make the moves in January that can bring more quality in.

A possible banana skin, but they quality in Leicester’s team at the moment should not be faulted and hopefully Puel will keep the same structure, play the best team and as long as anyone are injured just put them out there.

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Schmeichel is certainty, Pereira just needs more games at right back and really settling the position, and make him comfortable is a key. Chilwell, Maguire and Morgan are also players that need another game together with Pereira to make this quartet strong as concrete defensively.

Hamza Choudhury is a player that will grow on confidence from his three latest games, not really being a first choice and a player Claude Puel looks to have had a straight plan for, but his three last performances shows his quality.

Marc Albrighton is a certainty for Tcf, will always be, his passing and now also a clinical finisher from the flank, shows that the player we feel is England potential should be in the team week and week out, secures points for Leicester City.

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Tcf often have opinions about players, but as long as the ideas Puel puts forward works, then we just trust his judgement. We would probably think that Puel will make changes for this game, and be a bit more offensive, he can be full of surprises.

Demarai Gray had a good game in the Carabao Cup against Man City, and could be a player that Puel would probably give more game time, but again why change this formula again, difficult decissions.

The game kicks off tomorrow at 15:00 English time, so we just have to wait for the excitement coming up. Leicester City should be ok, talking injuries, Amartey as far as we know the only absentee. Cardiff have a few sidelined, with Ward and Richards possibly missing.

Referee,
Simon Hooper, is in charge

Last Meeting, 11 v. 11
Home: 21.12.12, 0-1, Defeat, Premier League
Away: 03.11.18, 2-0, Win, Premier League

Best Bet,
Our prediction is a 2-0 win to Leicester

Predicted Leicester City line-up,
System: 4-5-1, Schmeichel – Pereira, Maguire, Morgan, Chilwell – Ndidi, Mendy, Choudhury, Albrighton, Maddison – Vardy

Fun Fact,
In the last game at King Power Stadium between the two teams, back in December 2012, six years ago, the only goal in the game was scored by Craig Bellamy. Bellamy was the only Welsh player in the Cardiff squad, the other Welsh player to be present was Andy King who played all 90 minutes for Leicester.

In Both Camps,
Sol Bamba, Lee Peltier, Greg Cunningham, Paul Ramsey, Peter Rodrigues, Robbie James are a few names to notice with a life in both camps. Bamba, Cunningham and Peltier could all be involved tomorrow. Kasper Schmeichel spent some time on loan at Cardiff, so did Danny Drinkwater.

The big duel,
Jamie Vardy v. Sol Bamba, like both players, real icons and special, we hopefully will see Vardy making a few runs that Bamba will struggle with

December 28, 2018 0