Leicester City fans have plenty to look forward to in the January transfer window under Ruud van Nistelrooy, as the Dutch manager seeks to strengthen the squad in their battle for Premier League survival.
Van Nistelrooy is expected to bring in reinforcements, with fans particularly eager for Crystal Palace to recall loanee Odsonne Edouard, who has struggled to provide adequate support for Jamie Vardy.
Improving the defense is also a priority for Leicester, who have conceded the third-most goals in the league. The club is reportedly targeting a new full-back or center-back, with former Everton defender Ben Godfrey emerging as a potential option. Currently out of favor at Atalanta, Godfrey has made just four appearances across all competitions.
Another name on Leicester’s radar is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, the academy graduate who was instrumental in their Championship-winning campaign last season, scoring 12 goals and providing 14 assists. Fans were disappointed to see Dewsbury-Hall leave for Chelsea in a £30 million transfer over the summer, a move heavily influenced by Enzo Maresca’s departure to Stamford Bridge.
However, Dewsbury-Hall’s time at Chelsea has been underwhelming. The 26-year-old has yet to start a Premier League game and has mainly featured in the Conference League, where he recently scored in a 5-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers.
Now, Leicester has been linked with a move to bring Dewsbury-Hall back, and Maresca has reportedly given van Nistelrooy the green light to pursue his return in 2025.
Speaking in the post-match press conference, the Italian hinted at the midfielder departing: “Unfortunately, I cannot say that (he is definitely going to stay), not about Kiernan, about all the squad, because when the transfer window is open, unfortunately, anything can happen,” Maresca said via The Athletic.
“So I’m not focused on January, the only thing I can say about Kiernan is that we are very happy in the way he’s working, we are very happy about his performance, and this is my thought about Kiernan.”
Once a key figure at Leicester City, academy graduate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has seen his opportunities dwindle at Chelsea, with his lack of involvement clearly reflected in the statistics.
Despite receiving the green light to re-sign him, many Leicester fans are not keen on a January return for Dewsbury-Hall. They believe the club should prioritize strengthening other areas instead.
Van Nistelrooy already has a strong midfield lineup, thanks to the resurgence of Boubakary Soumare and the arrival of Oliver Skipp, providing ample quality in that department.
Bringing Dewsbury-Hall back would be more of a luxury move at this stage, as Leicester faces more urgent needs elsewhere.
