Leicester City

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist

Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to the media before Friday's FA Cup game at Manchester United (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Van Nistelrooy confirmed that Jeremy Monga, 15, and Jake Evans, 16, will be part of the squad at Old Trafford, while midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is available for selection.

• On the mood after last weekend's loss at Everton: "The disappointment, which we didn't see coming after the Tottenham game, was painful and very disappointing. We evaluated the game with the players, where we have to improve, and then you start going back to work again."

• Reflecting on a transfer window in which Leicester made only one senior signing: "It's not a question of being disappointed or happy - it's a question of reality. It's clear what the reality of the club is at this moment. The opportunities and restrictions go hand in hand and we had to deal with this."

• Van Nistelrooy continued: "I said before that we needed to strengthen and to impact the team with impact players, and we weren't able to get them because of the balance of opportunity and restrictions. That is the reality. We tried, but the focus was on impact players to strengthen the squad. We did it with Woyo Coulibaly but other possibilities weren't possible."

• Asked if anything changed, he said: "The conversations in November before I joined were clear. Of course, you then enter a process together, where you prepare the window and the figures and everything is presented to you. I was part of that along the way. The idea was that there were certain possibilities, but when the numbers came on the table, it turned out to be different. We had to reassess and look at the possibilities within that framework. The only addition is Coulibaly and we go on with this squad."

• Van Nistelrooy said "the reality is not always as you wish" and those developments "did not come as a surprise", before adding: "Reality set in and then I'm quite pragmatic - 'OK, let's get on with it and get the most out of what we have'."

• On if playing in the FA Cup is a distraction or is welcomed: "It's always welcome. We'll do everything possible to be at our best and it's never a distraction. To play in this cup is a privilege and we want to show what we're about in a fantastic away game at Old Trafford. These games are more than welcome. It's a dream for every player to play there."

• Van Nistelrooy will return to United having had a spell as interim manager earlier this season: "It's special to go back there, with the history as a player, an assistant manager and caretaker manager. It is part of me and always will be, but the focus is on my players and my team, to get the best of them and show what we're about."

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Leicester have progressed from seven of their past eight FA Cup fourth-round ties; the other was a 4-1 away defeat by Nottingham Forest in 2021-22.

Chris Forryan
Fan writer

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Unfortunately, this transfer window sums up the state this club is in right now.

This window as good as sealed our relegation back to the Championship, where the EFL is waiting for us with management plans, transfer embargoes and points deductions - unless Nick de Marco has any rabbits left.

We have an owner we all love, but he is scared to replace any of his failing management team of CEO Susan Whelan, director of football John Rudkin and manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Yes, he kept bailing us out with his debt to share buyouts, but it is under his leadership we have those debts.

In hindsight, the appointment of Steve Cooper was wrong, although we had more points under him than Van Nistelrooy.

Paying him off reportedly limited the money we could spend in the window - which was the one when Van Nistelrooy could bring in his own players and turn things around.

We bought a right-back for, err, £1.5m, who Van Nistelrooy then kept on the bench while he continues to play James Justin in that position - a left-back who has failed to impress.

You can't even say we are preparing for life in the Championship. We are preparing for life down the scrap heap.

They say be careful what you wish for. Well, nothing could be worse than this!

Find more from Chris Forryan at Leicester Till I Die, external

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Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper says the Foxes need "hunger, fight and determination" to bridge the gap to Wolves in the fight for survival.

Leicester are currently 18th, two points behind Wolves after suffering a 4-0 loss to 16th place Everton.

" I look at the Wolves squad, and it is between us and Wolves", Piper said. "I think we're better than the two teams below us and I don't think we're going to get more points than Wolves.

"I look at that Wolves team and defensively they're better than us, they can score goals and they also have two very special players.

"I knew it was going to be a struggle, but the way you can bridge the gap is by having that hunger and desire. The more you see performances like the Everton one the more your belief starts to wane but you get the Tottenham performance and you think, 'see this side can do it, they can come from behind and show some hunger, fight and determination and that can bridge the gap, even against the best sides in the Premier League'."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

The latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast has landed.

Listen to Owynn Palmer-Atkin, ex-Leicester winger Matt Piper and a Foxes fan review the 4-0 defeat by Everton and assess the lack of transfer activity at the King Power.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Sunderland's substantial offer for Leicester City midfielder Kasey McAteer has been rejected.

It is slightly less than the initial £8m reported, but it has been turned down by the Foxes.

The 23-year-old has made 15 appearances for the club this season and has featured six times under current boss Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

The academy graduate, who is also a Republic of Ireland international, has scored seven goals in 45 appearances for the club and won the Championship with the Foxes last season.

Sunderland are fourth in the Championship and face Middlesbrough at Riverside Stadium tonight.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Leicester are another club expected to have a relatively uneventful deadline day.

Right-back Woyo Coulibaly is Ruud Van Nistelrooy's only signing this month, having joined from Parma for around £3m.

The manager said the club would work "until the last second" of the window to bring in reinforcements but unless there is some late drama it looks like it will be a quiet day at the King Power Stadium.

The Foxes - third bottom of the Premier League - still need to work within of profit and sustainability restrictions.

The club also need to be mindful of bringing in players who can make a difference, having signed Odsonne Edouard on loan from Crystal Palace on deadline day in the summer, only for the striker to have made four substitute appearances in the top flight so far this season.

England Under-20 winger Will Alves has joined Cardiff on loan and Wilfred Ndidi had interest from Monaco but Van Nistelrooy has already ruled out selling the Nigeria international midfielder.

Defender Caleb Okoli - who is yet to start for Van Nistelrooy having joined from Atalanta for around £12m under Steve Cooper in the summer - is also currently set to stay.

Cardiff City have signed Leicester City's Will Alves on loan until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old midfielder has made five senior appearances, including a Premier League debut as a substitute against Manchester City in December.

The Foxes have sanctioned Alves' move to Wales as they are keen for him to gain more first-team experience.

• Read more

Follow live transfer updates and see all of Monday's completed deals

It's the last day of the winter transfer window and Premier League clubs have until 23:00 GMT to complete their business.

We'll bring you all the news, views, twists and turns as the clock ticks down to deadline.

Follow it all here

We asked you what would ensure you are satisfied this deadline day.

Here are some of your comments:

Chris: We need a striker, and we need to stop the attempts to clone Jamie Vardy because he's simply unique. With our budget constraints, that means looking at youngsters who are big, strong, and good in the air.

Steve: It is well known that our central defensive partnership is a real weakness and without at least one competent new central defender, we will certainly be relegated. Leicester also need an attacking winger and a striker to help Vardy. He is a legend and gives his all for the club, but he needs help.

Chris: Nothing realistic will help, because for that we need an entire back line, two wingers and a striker. So, instead I'll say that I hope we don't make another useless panic signing or sign any more players that are 30-plus on three-year deals.

James: To put a twist on the Andrew Lloyd-Webber classic, it's more a case of "Any Signing Will Do", to add to the acquisition of a £3m full-back who has been barely used since. However, since the persistent shadow of financial incompetence lingers, even one desperately-needed incoming transfer for anywhere on the pitch is unlikely.

Paul: Two decent central defenders.

Neil: I don't think we should sign anyone. This club will be relegated and we should adjust our expenditure to Championship revenues accordingly. Signing players in January has not often been successful for Leicester and I can't see that signing one or two players will make any marked difference to a squad that is bereft of Premier League quality.

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Former Leicester City interim manager Mike Stowell says the Foxes showed "no resilience and no fight" during their 4-0 defeat at Everton, adding there appeared to be "a real poor understanding" between Ruud van Nistelrooy and his players.

Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast, Stowell said: "It was really disappointing. It was a tough watch and I never saw it coming. I would have said the win at Tottenham felt like it had turned the season around, especially off the back of what Ruud has been saying about them training with more intensity.

"We saw none of that in this game. We saw no resilience and no fight. I know you can go anywhere in the Premier League and get beaten, but it is the manner in which it happened. It was lacklustre.

"There was no fight. You don't have to be skilful to run around. You don't have to be skilful to win your battles or your headers.

"We weren't asking for amazing things from the players. We were just asking for them to do their job and do it at a level they are getting paid to do it for, but that was nowhere near.

"To concede a goal like that after 10 seconds just set the tone - and then there was no reaction. It's fine to go a goal down, especially after 10 seconds because it gives you a long enough period to get a goal back, but there was none of that.

"They looked like they didn't want to score a goal to get back in it. There was a real lack of effort and almost an acceptance that it was done at that point. It was almost like a damage limitation exercise, but even that didn't work out."

Listen to the full post-match podcast on BBC Sounds

Let's be realistic.

Instead of setting sights high only for dreams to get dashed, we want to know what the minimum requirement is for Leicester on deadline day.

Be as specific as possible and tell us what will ensure you are satisfied come 23:00 GMT on Monday.

Let us know

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Everton and Leicester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Robbie: What a start to the game - the quickest any home team has ever delivered in the Premier League. Garner's return made such a difference and Beto looked like a Premier League player for the first time. Let's build on this and win the last derby at Goodison Park.

Peter: Who would have thought that passing the ball forward on the ground- instead of sideways and backwards, then lumping it forward - would create chances? Hardly rocket science, is it?

Bill: There was something in my drink because I have just enjoyed watching the mighty Blues win - and win by four goals!

Jeff: Dominic Calvert-Lewin's injury is the best thing that could have happened for Everton this season. Beto has grabbed his chance and we are so much better with him instead. We are pretty much safe now.

Keith: Three consecutive wins and eight goals scored. Here's to all those naysayers who rubbished this appointment. No other manager out there could have turned it around so emphatically. Moyes and Everton just works.

Leicester fans

John: Abysmal! The speed of play was simply too fast for all of the defence, who were left wanting throughout the match. The dreadful performance was compounded further by a lack of creativity in midfield. In short, I am embarrassed to be a Leicester City supporter at present.

Steve: Dreadful! How can we have higher possession and no goals? We need to stop playing Faes immediately, I've never got over him scoring two own goals in one game! That alone will at least give us a fairer chance of staying up.

Martyn: I really hope that is Vestergaard's last game. He clearly evidenced that he is way too slow. We need to play Okoli as he is quick and strong. Coady should start too, along with Mavididi instead of Ayew. Freshen up the defence please, just like Moyes has done at Everton.

Tony: It is sad to watch this Leicester team. Trouble is, they are not a team. They are just individuals kicking a ball around, who seem to have no faith and are resigned to playing Championship football next season.

Nathan: Sadly this is going to come down to whether Ipswich and Wolves can both somehow be worse than us. Another woeful showing, particularly defensively. It could be a long stint in the Championship ahead, if recruitment isn't right.

Watch highlights and analysis from Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool

• Wolves 2-0 Aston Villa

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Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to BBC Sport about the heavy defeat at Goodison Park: "If you look at the scoreboard after 10 seconds and after five minutes, if you look at the goals, of course you don't do yourself any favours to come here and get a result starting like that.

"You look at the first goal - it was a long ball, a duel, and Doucoure is in. The second goal - it was one ball down the channel. They are good finishes. They were very effective. We know that at the start of the game you have to stay in the game. You know it will be intense and hard at Goodison Park. We gave ourselves a big problem to get a result.

"You always think about changes, but at 2-0 you have some options and at 3-0 you have very limited options. We carried on for 15 minutes and then made substitutes.

"We worked hard for that [Tottenham] result and turning good performances into points. It took a lot of work to get ourselves out of the relegation zone. It is a hard one to take, credit to Everton. They have been great against Spurs, Brighton and in this one. We have to take it on the chin and improve.

"It's the little things. The first duel and sharpness to act accordingly. It can happen, it is football. We know the situation we are in. We are together and we want to push forward and get out of this situation."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Everton's performance

What did you make of Leicester's display?

Come back to this page on Sunday evening to find a selection of your replies