Robert Huth once declared he was almost prouder of Leicester’s 2014-15 Great Escape than their Premier League title.
A decade on, the Foxes need a similarly inspired winter signing as when they nabbed the German colossus on loan from Stoke.
He arrived with Leicester bottom. After a rocky introduction, a Huth-marshalled defence conceded seven goals in the final nine games, earning 22 points. They finished 14th.
Across England’s top four leagues, only Plymouth, Peterborough, and Wolves have conceded more goals than Leicester’s 44. Saturday’s 6-2 demolition of QPR was refreshing but defensive frailty still afflicted them.
Two sloppy passes from Harry Winks led to QPR’s goals. For the second, Wout Faes reacted too sluggishly as Rayan Kolli raced through. Huth watched on.
Injuries to goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, Jannik Vestergaard, Ricardo Pereira, and Wilfred Ndidi have complicated defensive matters while Abdul Fatawu, who was such a terror in the Championship, will not return this season. They need a couple of bodies in.
‘We’re working on different possibilities,’ Ruud van Nistelrooy said on Saturday. Parma full back Woyo Coulibaly looks set to sign.
In 2022-23, Leicester were punished for poor recruitment. Alex Smithies never played for them and Nathan Opoku still hasn’t. Harry Souttar failed to convince. Tete impressed but was only a loanee.
Faes and Victor Kristiansen are the only ones who have become first-team regulars, but they lost this battle last time.
This window will shape the relegation struggle. Wolves have signed Reims captain Emmanuel Agbadou for £15million. Ipswich appear to be closing in on Jaden Philogene. What will Leicester do?