Steve Cooper draws up Leicester transfer wish list with two starters needed in January
Steve Cooper would like at least two new signings in the January transfer window to go straight into his Leicester starting line-up, talkSPORT understands. A defender is likely to be high on his list of priorities with the Foxes conceding 21 goals in their opening 11 matches of the Premier League season. Cooper is keen to bring at least two new signings to Leicester in JanuaryGetty Cooper brought in 23-year-old central defender Caleb Okoli from Atalanta in pre-season and although the Italian has struggled for consistency, senior figures at the club believe he’ll become a high-quality player. A second physical centre-back was on the summer wish list so Leicester could renew their quest to strengthen that position. Meanwhile, a new left-back could also be targeted to move ahead of Victor Kristiansen and Luke Thomas in the pecking order. The Foxes have won just twice since promotion from the Championship ahead of welcoming their former boss Enzo Maresca, and Chelsea, to the King Power Stadium this weekend, live on talkSPORT. The four defenders that started in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United before the international break were all part of the squad relegated from the Premier League in 2023. Conor Coady is understood to be keen to play more often having featured just once in the Premier League this season. He came off the bench in the 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace in September. 20-year old centre-back Ben Nelson, who’s spent the first part of the campaign on-loan at Oxford United, is highly regarded by the club and could have been recalled in January to be part of Leicester’s run-in to the season. He is, however, expected to be out for several months with a thigh injury. Cooper had been keeping a close eye on Nelson’s progress and was in the stands at Oxford when he suffered his injury. The Foxes boss wants to add a centre-back and left-back when the transfer window re-opensGetty Meanwhile, winger Abdul Fatawu has been ruled out for the season in a bitter blow for the Foxes. Fatawu suffered an ACL injury on international duty with Ghana. Cooper confirmed the bad news in his pre-Chelsea press conference this morning. He said: “To happen at such a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.” Fatawu had starred in his first few games in the Premier League, being a constant threat out wide. He played the full 90 minutes against Man United before the international break. Ex-Nottingham Forest boss Cooper took charge at the King Power in the summer, replacing Maresca in the dugout. He inherited a side fresh from winning promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt. In 11 league matches this term, Cooper has picked up 10 points thanks to wins over Bournemouth and Southampton. As a result, Leicester sit in 15th place as well as reaching the last 16 of the Carabao Cup before defeat to United last month.
Steve Cooper would like at least two new signings in the January transfer window to go straight into his Leicester starting line-up, talkSPORT understands.
A defender is likely to be high on his list of priorities with the Foxes conceding 21 goals in their opening 11 matches of the Premier League season.
Cooper brought in 23-year-old central defender Caleb Okoli from Atalanta in pre-season and although the Italian has struggled for consistency, senior figures at the club believe he’ll become a high-quality player.
A second physical centre-back was on the summer wish list so Leicester could renew their quest to strengthen that position.
Meanwhile, a new left-back could also be targeted to move ahead of Victor Kristiansen and Luke Thomas in the pecking order.
The Foxes have won just twice since promotion from the Championship ahead of welcoming their former boss Enzo Maresca, and Chelsea, to the King Power Stadium this weekend, live on talkSPORT.
The four defenders that started in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United before the international break were all part of the squad relegated from the Premier League in 2023.
Conor Coady is understood to be keen to play more often having featured just once in the Premier League this season.
He came off the bench in the 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace in September.
20-year old centre-back Ben Nelson, who’s spent the first part of the campaign on-loan at Oxford United, is highly regarded by the club and could have been recalled in January to be part of Leicester’s run-in to the season.
He is, however, expected to be out for several months with a thigh injury.
Cooper had been keeping a close eye on Nelson’s progress and was in the stands at Oxford when he suffered his injury.
Meanwhile, winger Abdul Fatawu has been ruled out for the season in a bitter blow for the Foxes.
Fatawu suffered an ACL injury on international duty with Ghana.
Cooper confirmed the bad news in his pre-Chelsea press conference this morning.
He said: “To happen at such a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.”
Fatawu had starred in his first few games in the Premier League, being a constant threat out wide.
He played the full 90 minutes against Man United before the international break.
Ex-Nottingham Forest boss Cooper took charge at the King Power in the summer, replacing Maresca in the dugout.
He inherited a side fresh from winning promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
In 11 league matches this term, Cooper has picked up 10 points thanks to wins over Bournemouth and Southampton.
As a result, Leicester sit in 15th place as well as reaching the last 16 of the Carabao Cup before defeat to United last month.
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