Russell Martin Weighing up more Signings as Leicester Prepare for League Season Opener vs. Notts County – TCF – FILBERT WAY
Russell Martin looks to have copied what we said back in May, not that he has done the signings of the players suggested, but profiles of those type of players are in real very similar. We do believe in this model of squad building and it will work if the players you sign are on a level they believe is their own benchmark, that will potentially secure good results.
Tommy Watson is linked with Leicester and could be a solid option as a flank alternative. He fits our current squad needs well. We also believe that two more sigings are needed at this point to get the squad complete. Another young defender in on loan as well as a top striker option.
There are still work to do to get this complete. In an ideal set up, players must be in balance with their own thinking and belief. If a player see himself somewhere else than he is at the moment, energy and focus will fade and you will be in trouble as a manager. You can’t change people’s minds, you need to understand when those decisions must be made.
You need to follow a few simple ground rules, if you do, you will avoid a lot of problems and can concentrate on football, the rest will sort it self out.
You also need to have space in your squad to bring young talent through. If you decide to block young players from progress, you will also close your communication with them in a positive manner. To have space and places for young players is a must.
You also need to have assets in your squad that are potential sales objects and when others come around to buy, you need to be able to sell and have a replacement lined up either in your own ranks or as part of a well functioning signing. But if a player leave, you do not need two to replace him, never.
Look at the amoung of central defenders at the club at the moment. You have four established defenders and all of them are full internationals or U21 internationals. You should at least have space for a young talent in there, and not be affraid to play them if needed.
Russell Martin still have a few things left to get his squad in shape, but so far we like what we see. He has been clever in building, hopefully this will continue. Still not convinced about having a top quality striker, Liam Cullen being a versitale player who can operate in different roles. Elijah Adebayo was talked up as a potential man to call, would have been ideal, if fit. Currently on a trial at Bristol City, looking good. The other attacking option could be Tommy Watson, but still no confirmation on that move, just yet.
Dom Ballard is the hot topic, but he is not the type of player that would fit the picture. Despite his 23 goals in 44 league games for Leyoton Orient last sason, would have liked another type of player, with more pace and a bit more presence, watching Ballard, he is more of a player working out things on his own. Leicester will also play with much possession and to be able to understand that type of play and having a strong presence in the box will be of great importance.
League One Leicester to sign Brighton winger Tommy Watson in major coup https://t.co/YGExEX7J6d
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 30, 2026
Looking at our set up back in May, we have the following,
Goalkeepers;
Do not understand the inclusion of Alex McCarthy. McCarthy has a injury record that would see him as a risk. Jacub Stolarczyk is a clear number one and should be given that confidence, not bringing in an old man to compete with him, looks strange. Fran Vieites and Jacub Stolarczyk are alternatives good enough to function as the goalkeeper pair at this point, both also under contract and not easy to move on. This also blocks the chance for Stevie Bausor or Harry French to be involved and having hope of a chance to progress. They are both at an age that would surely give them some sort of hope of getting on the bench, at this time that looks blocked. Leicester have with the addition of Alex McCarthy not made a signing that looks as a long term first team goalkeeper move.
Defenders;
The only new face so far is Christian McFarlane. This is very in line with our thoughts of bringing in one more left footed full back only having Luke Thomas at the club at the minute. Mirsad Ali and Tom Wilson-Brown were the other alternatives, but none of them looks ready to fill that spot completely. We believed Woyo Coulibaly would be sold, but the player is still with us. He is quality and could be that right back alternative, also having Olabade Aluko as a challanger. A doubl si needed. We suggested another loan move, but keeping Woyo would be the wise alternative at this point.
Our four central defenders suggested was, Jannik Vestergaard, Ben Nelson, Harry Souttar and Kevon Gray. This was a good blend of different types and age, experience and young talent. were our four players to keep, believing they would be a good fit back then. Caleb Okoli and Wout Faes were both players we believed would have been gone by now, but they are still at the club and could both be here when the season starts. Harry Souttar is rumoured to be on his way out, Wrexham said to be keen. We would settle with Faes, Nelson and Okoli, possibly having a shout, playing all three, with the potential of moving the left back higher in the field or playing one of them to the right as was done last season with Okoli. The ideal set up would be to loan in a central defender back up and loan out Wout Faes, to keep Nelson and Okoli as a partnership. Faes will be a player who can play at Premier League level, so to see him moving out on loan is not a strange thought.
Midfield;
The addition of Conor Chaplin was ideal, he will fill that spot, we opened up and suggested for Cameron Brannagan. Brannagan will not join from Oxford. Will Alves was one we believed would have been a clear sale to a Championship club back in May, but he looks to be part of the plan at this point. Alves is a much better offensive midfielder than a wide flank man, but surely one to keep and have as an option. Sammy Braybrooke and Oliver Skipp, together with Bobby De Cordova-Reid are other options in the midfield area. Louis Page and Tommy Neale are also showing great promise at the moment. In our mind and thought, Tommy Neale should be given a chance to go on loan somewhere, keeping the other six as the group.
Forwards;
Liam Cullen has joined from Swansea. He looks a good addition and can operate on a number of places up front, but Leicester still lack that top forward, hoped to be a fit Elijah Adebayo. Hopes are that Stephy Mavididi will be staying, despite rumours linking him with EFL Championship clubs as well as other options abroad. Kirsten Otchere should be given a chance this season as his presence looks good. Riley Carr, Jayden Joseph, Nathan Opoku, Michael Golding, Lorenz Hutchinson and Jake Evans are other players in the pond, but we believe that more additions must be made in the attacking department.
This would see the following squad situation at this point;
Goalkeepers: McCarthy *, Stolarczyk, Vieites, Defenders; Coulibaly, Aluko, McFarlane #, Thomas, Okoli, Nelson, “New #”, Gray, Midfield: Page, Braybrooke, Chaplin *, Skipp, Reid, Alves, Forwards: Mavididi, Cullen *, Otchere, “New #”, “New *”, Carr
# loan signing, * permanent signing
This adds up our group of 22 players, looking at more players to add, hopefully seeing three more signings in the door before the seasons starts. This would of course give Russell Martin a number of options to consider loaning out, but that will in no way be a problem. Golding, Joseph and Opoku should be potential loan men, or even considered sold if the correct options is available.
Leicester are linked with Spurs defender Malachi Hardy, who would an ideal loan signing in this set up. To see the addition of Elijah Adebayo would be a positive, if not would have tried to bring in a player with a similar profile, as height and presence will be of great importance for a top target man in this Russell Martin set up. We would also like to see an addition of one more loan signing in the forward line, that hopefully will be Tommy Watson from Brighton on a season long loan.
This would also be in line with the age profile, as well as expected levels and acceptance from players own goals and of course have enough depth to be able to compete for promotion over 46 league games next season.
A potential first team line-up;
Stolarczyk – Coulibaly, Thomas / McFarlane, Okoli, Nelson – Braybrooke, Skipp, Alves / Chaplin – Alves / New, Mavididi, Cullen / New
