MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 10: Ruud van Nistelrooy, Interim Head Coach of Manchester United, looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Leicester City FC at Old Trafford on November 10, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
It’s become obvious who Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first signing at Leicester should be – he’s actually attainable
Leicester City is poised to enter a new chapter under Ruud van Nistelrooy’s management.
Just days after Steve Cooper’s departure, the club is on the verge of appointing van Nistelrooy. The former Manchester United interim coach has been in discussions with club owner Khun Top, who has received assurances that van Nistelrooy will bring an exciting and attractive style of football to the team.
Khun Top is also confident that van Nistelrooy will build a strong rapport with the players, something Cooper struggled with. While van Nistelrooy won’t be on the touchline this weekend, he is expected to watch Leicester’s match against Brentford from the stands. This will give him an opportunity to assess the squad and identify areas that need strengthening ahead of the January transfer window.
It’s clear that van Nistelrooy’s first priority should be signing a new striker. Leicester urgently need more attacking depth, with Jamie Vardy being the only player consistently able to score goals. Patson Daka, who has recently returned from injury, and Odsonne Edouard have not met the required standard.
After 12 games, it’s evident that Leicester must sign another forward to support Vardy. The ideal target is Evan Ferguson, who is reportedly available for loan from Brighton in January, according to the Telegraph. Ferguson, a promising young striker, is currently behind Danny Welbeck in the pecking order at Brighton and is eager for regular first-team football.
Leicester must act quickly to secure Ferguson’s signature, as he would be an excellent fit for van Nistelrooy’s plans. However, in order to comply with Premier League regulations, the club would need to terminate one of their current loan deals. The most likely candidate for this is Edouard, who has played only 142 minutes of league action for Leicester this season and has yet to score. In contrast, Facundo Buonanotte, another loanee, has been performing well. Sending Edouard back to Crystal Palace would free up space for Ferguson to join Leicester in January.
