Leicester’s squad planning is not finished yet, and the expectation is that more changes will follow after Kirsten Otchere’s season-long loan to Cheltenham. With the league campaign beginning against Notts County, the focus is now on whether Leicester add another striker and keep the squad balanced for EFL League One rules.
Back in May, the discussion around Leicester was simple enough: the squad needed to be shaped carefully if the club were to push for straight promotion. That remains the same challenge now. The club have 22 senior players, but with at least eight players under contract who are under the age of 21, four goalkeepers, and the need to operate within a 25-player limit, there is still room for movement in both directions.
Russell Martin has already made clear that the club will not accept any offer for Harry Souttar unless it reaches the right level. After the Genoa game, he said no club had made an acceptable bid, and the message was straightforward: he is in no way selling below the asking price. That tells you Leicester are still trying to protect the core of the squad while also looking at where fresh faces can strengthen the group.
Why Leicester still expect more movement
The loan move for Kirsten Otchere only adds to the sense that Leicester are still fine-tuning the squad rather than settling it. The reported expectation is that two more signings could still arrive, with another striker seen as part of the plan before the Notts County match.
That is where names such as Wes Burns and Dom Ballard have naturally come into the conversation around the club’s forward options, even if Leicester’s wider squad picture is still the main story. The key point is not one individual alone. It is whether Leicester can keep enough pace, depth and balance across the front line while also staying within the rules.
The balance between outgoings and arrivals
Leicester’s ideal shape has also been discussed as a 4-3-3, which puts even more emphasis on having the right blend of attackers and wide players. A squad list suggested in May was always likely to change, and that is exactly what has happened. The club have been active, but there is still a sense that the final pieces are not yet in place.
For Russell Martin, the next step is about making sure the squad is strong enough for the demands of the season without leaving gaps elsewhere. If there are two more additions, as expected, then Leicester will be hoping those moves complete the plan rather than create fresh questions.
What happens before Notts County will tell us plenty. Leicester are clearly not done yet, and the final decisions may shape how quickly they can settle into the promotion push they set out to make back in May.
