Leicester City have been dealt the biggest of blows in their quest for survival after finding out that Abdul Fatawu will be out for the rest of the season.
Steve Cooper confirmed that Fatawu would be sidelined for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign due to an ACL injury.
It comes as a bitter blow for both the 20-year-old and the Foxes, with Fatawu one of Leicester’s better players this season.
With a lack of wide options at the King Power Stadium, Leicester may be forced to rethink their January transfer plans.
John Percy of The Telegraph revealed that the Foxes are targeting a left-back, forward and back-up goalkeeper, however, a new winger may now be added to the shopping list.
Funds are expected to be tight and the loan market may be the best option for a replacement so with that, here’s three loan signings Leicester should look at to fill the Fatawu-sized hole.
- READ MORE: Gary Lineker was right to be worried about Leicester City in August, his biggest fear has come true
Mathys Tel – Bayern Munich
Leicester have been linked with making a move for Mathys Tel, who has been compared to AC Milan star Rafael Leao.
Given the competition at Bayern Munich, Tel has found gametime hard to come by and at such a young age, first-team football would be most welcome.
The 19-year-old joined Bayern in 2022 and is seen as a long-term part of their plans. Vincent Kompany doesn’t want to sell him permanently and is only interested in a loan to provide him with regular game time.
It would be a move that suits all parties as Tel would be almost certain to start for the Foxes and plug the void left by Fatawu’s absence.
| Stats | Abdul Fatawu | Mathys Tel |
| Games played | 13 | 7 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 |
| Assists | 2 | 0 |
| Chances created | 6 | 0 |
| Dribbles | 29 | 4 |
Ben Doak – Liverpool
Technically speaking, Ben Doak shouldn’t be on this list as he’s already out on loan at Middlesbrough but if Leicester were to come calling, it would be hard to say no.
Doak is one of Liverpool’s brightest, young talents, and has already made waves on the international stage with Scotland.
The winger made his senior debut for Celtic aged 16 before moving to Liverpool, where his development has been followed very closely.
He was loaned to Championship club Middlesbrough this summer and has been one of the club’s star players and most recently gave world class Croatia and Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol a torrid time in the Nations League.
His age would mean it’s a gamble but having excelled in the second tier, six months at a Premier League club who are in the lower half of the league could improve his stock even further.
| Stats | Abdul Fatawu | Ben Doak |
| Games played | 13 | 10 |
| Goals | 0 | 1 |
| Assists | 2 | 3 |
| Chances created | 6 | 21 |
| Dribbles | 29 | 23 |
Ethan Nwaneri – Arsenal
Arsenal’s academy has been hailed as the breeding ground for some of the best footballers in England and Ethan Nwaneri is the latest in a long line of Hale End graduates destined for the stars.
Nwaneri made his senior debut aged 15 and is Arsenal’s youngest-ever player. Now 17, Nwaneri looks ready to play regularly at the top level.
He’s been in every Premier League matchday squad for the Gunners this season and even been handed minutes – albeit sparingly.
With a squad possessing the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, Nwaneri isn’t likely to become a regular straightaway and a loan move to the King Power Stadium could benefit all parties as the young Englishman gets the chance to shine on the big stage.
| Stats | Abdul Fatawu | Ethan Nwaneri |
| Games played | 13 | 8 |
| Goals | 0 | 3 |
| Assists | 2 | 0 |
| Chances created | 6 | 3 |
| Dribbles | 29 | 3 |