January hits differently in the East Midlands. Honestly, if you're a Leicester fan right now, you're probably staring at the Championship table with a mix of confusion and mild dread. This wasn't exactly the plan, was it? After a whirlwind few years of "up and down," the current state of play at the King Power Stadium is basically a high-stakes puzzle that Martí Cifuentes is trying to solve with a few missing pieces.
The big story right now? Wout Faes.
It's pretty much a done deal. The Belgian international is heading to AS Monaco on loan with an option to buy. He hasn't even made a match-day squad in weeks. For a guy who has been a mainstay through two relegations and a promotion, seeing him vanish from the lineup is a massive shift. He wants to keep his World Cup dreams alive, and let’s face it, playing in the Championship isn’t exactly the best shop window for that.
The Cifuentes Era and the Mid-Table Slump
Martí Cifuentes took over back in July 2025, and while there were flashes of brilliance early on, things have gotten kinda sticky. As of mid-January 2026, the Foxes are sitting 12th in the Championship. 37 points from 26 games. That's a far cry from the "runaway leaders" narrative fans were hoping for.
The defense has been... well, leaky. 38 goals conceded. When you’ve got a negative goal difference this late in the season, you know the foundation is a bit shaky. Jannik Vestergaard is still there, holding things together at 33, but he’s currently a doubt for the upcoming M69 derby against Coventry City because of an ankle knock he picked up in the FA Cup win over Cheltenham.
Speaking of that Cheltenham game, a 2-0 win was professional, sure. Patson Daka and Stephy Mavididi got the goals. But it’s the league form that’s keeping people up at night.
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Transfer Window Chaos: Dykes, Daka, and the Search for Goals
The rumor mill is absolutely churning. With Julian Carranza gone, the club is desperate for a striker. The latest name? Lyndon Dykes.
Some fans are skeptical. Dykes hasn't exactly been prolific at Birmingham, but Cifuentes knows him from their QPR days. It feels like a "budget" move, a low-risk gamble to see if he can provide some aerial presence that the team is sorely lacking.
Then there’s Patson Daka. He’s been linked with Valencia.
If Daka leaves, the pressure on Jordan James becomes immense. James has been the standout this season, leading the scoring with 8 goals from midfield. It’s a bit weird, actually—your top scorer being a 21-year-old midfielder while the traditional strikers struggle for consistency.
The Injury Room is Getting Crowded
You can't talk about Leicester City FC news now without mentioning the physio room. It's a revolving door.
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- Harry Souttar: Out with an Achilles issue until late January.
- Victor Kristiansen: Knee trouble, hoping for a return soon.
- Boubakary Soumaré: Another knee injury sidelining him for the rest of the month.
- Aaron Ramsey: The hamstring curse continues. He’s likely out until February.
It’s forced Cifuentes to get creative. Oliver Skipp, the £20m man, has actually been dropping back into the defense lately to cover the gaps. He’s been one of the bright spots, showing a level of versatility that’s basically saved the team from a total defensive collapse.
Why the Coventry Game is Everything
The M69 derby on January 17th isn't just about local bragging rights this time. Coventry are top of the league. They're flying. Leicester, meanwhile, are drifting in the middle of the pack.
Losing to your biggest rivals while they sit at the summit of the table? That’s a bitter pill. But a win? A win could be the spark that finally ignites this season. Cifuentes has been calling for a "professional performance," similar to what they showed in the Cup, but the Championship is a different beast entirely.
The fans are still turning up—average attendance is hovering around 29,700—but you can feel the tension. There’s a sense that the club is at a crossroads. Do they spend big in the final weeks of the window to push for the playoffs, or do they accept that 2026 might just be a "reset" year?
Actionable Insights for the Foxes Faithful
If you're following the news daily, keep your eyes on these specific moves over the next 72 hours.
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First, check the official lineup for the Coventry match the second it drops. If Vestergaard isn't there, and we're seeing a makeshift backline of Skipp and Caleb Okoli, expect a very defensive, counter-attacking setup.
Second, watch the Patson Daka situation. If he’s left out of the squad, the Valencia move is likely progressing, which means the club must land a replacement (like Dykes or potentially a loan from the Premier League) before the window shuts.
Lastly, don't sleep on the youngsters. Cifuentes has been hinted at trusting the academy more. Players like Will Alves are back in action and could be the "internal signings" the team needs to inject some energy into a squad that looks a bit leg-heavy after the festive period.
The road back to the Premier League looks long right now. But in this league, a three-game win streak changes everything. It’s all about surviving the January window and finding a way to stop conceding cheap goals.