Leicester City

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week three, he takes on MOBO Award-winning drum & bass legend and producer Adam F.

Sutton's prediction: 1-3

I think Leicester have got their work cut out against Villa, they were lucky to get a point against Tottenham.

To be fair, they were resilient against Fulham but deservedly lost the game. I think it is going to be a long season for them.

I think Villa will bounce back and Ollie Watkins will get his shooting boots on. Morgan Rodgers looks super sharp for them.

Adam F's prediction: 1-2

I am expecting Villa to have another good season.

Read the full predictions and have your say

The three promoted teams all splashed some of their Premier League cash to try to improve their chances of staying up.

Ipswich and Southampton have both spent more than £100m, while Leicester paid out more than £75m.

Ipswich spent £109m on 10 players - seven of whom are from Premier League clubs including Chelsea's Omari Hutchinson, who joined for £20m after a successful loan.

Southampton's signings, which included the deadline-day arrival of Ramsdale, were from a wider variety of divisions.

Leicester, meanwhile, recruited exclusively from top divisions - with four of their seven signings from the Premier League and one from each of the Italian, Portuguese and Belgian leagues.

More on the summer window trends

Image source, Getty Images

Odsonne Edouard believes Leicester City "has what it takes to be successful" this season and has vowed to "work hard to do everything to support" his new team.

The 26-year-old striker has joined on a season-long loan from fellow Premier League outfit Crystal Palace and will provide Foxes boss Steve Cooper with more forward options during the 2024-25 campaign.

Speaking to the club after signing his contract, Edouard said: "I can't wait to get started. I'm really excited to be joining a team like Leicester City and to do what I can to help the team in the Premier League this season.

"There is a fantastic squad here and I'm confident that the team has what it takes to be successful.

"I'll be working hard to make sure I do everything I can to support my team and to show the fans what I can do on the pitch."

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester defender Ben Nelson has joined Oxford United for the remainder of the season.

The 20-year-old academy graduate has made nine appearances to date for the Foxes.

It will be his third loan spell following previous stints at Rochdale and Doncaster Rovers.

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester City striker Tom Cannon has joined Stoke City for the remainder of the season.

The 21-year-old, who joined the Foxes last summer from Everton, made 13 appearances last season in the Championship.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester City are exploring a late move for Crystal Palace striker Odsonne Edouard.

Foxes boss Steve Cooper has wanted an extra forward and Leicester are seeing if a deal is possible.

It is unclear whether it is permanent or a loan at this stage - and it would certainly be too late for any debut against Aston Villa in the Premier League this weekend.

Edouard has scored 21 goals in 103 appearances since joining the Eagles from Celtic in 2021.

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester City striker Chris Popov has joined League Two club Barrow on a season-long loan.

The 19-year-old made his senior debut for the Foxes in their Carabao Cup second round win over Tranmere Rovers earlier this week, having been part of the club's development squad since his arrival in 2021.

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester winger Wanya Marcal has completed a loan move to Dutch side De Graafschap.

The 21-year-old academy graduate's first senior appearance came as a substitute in a 4-1 win over Watford in the FA Cup third round in January 2022.

The Portugal youth international made his first start away to Huddersfield Town in the Championship last August, before scoring his first senior goal in a 2-1 win over Cardiff City a week later.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke are one of several Championship clubs who want to take Leicester City striker Tom Cannon on loan for the season.

The 21-year-old will be allowed to leave King Power Stadium by boss Steve Cooper, despite an ankle injury to Patson Daka which will keep the forward out for another two months.

Cannon has scored three goals in 16 appearances, although he has only made five starts for the Foxes since joining from Everton last year.

It is otherwise expected to be a quiet day at Leicester, with the Foxes happy with their business.

They brought in attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss from Genk for about £21m on Thursday and the 20-year-old could make his debut against Aston Villa on Saturday.

He offers the creative spark at the top end of the pitch, which Cooper had been looking for since replacing Enzo Maresca in July.

If something presents itself, the Foxes are ready to move but - as it stands - incomings are unlikely.

Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder and Planet Premier League pundit Cesc Fabregas believes the transfer window should close before the season begins.

Listen to the Planet Premier League podcast on BBC Sounds

A new episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast talks Marc Albrighton's retirement and transfers at King Power Stadium.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

We asked what you have made of Leicester's transfer window so far, and what needs to be done on deadline day.

Here are some of your comments:

Robert: The Foxes have made reasonable progress in the transfer window. However, the most pressing need was always a new striker to lead the attack, and preferably a young one. This key requirement has clearly not been handled by the club's hierarchy with the urgency needed. This is rather disappointing and it could prove to be a very costly mistake.

Noah: We still need a replacement for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall!

Jim: Bilal El Khannouss seems to be an attacking midfielder, so surely we desperately need a striker before the window closes? It seems that we are selling Tom Cannon, who I would have liked to have been given a chance in the Premier League. He obviously won't be given that chance, so another striker is a must. We can't just have Vardy - he will need resting.

Reuben: I'm still waiting for that Vardy replacement. Jordan Ayew isn't it. We need someone younger and if we can't get someone really young, then we should be going for someone in their mid-20s. But we do need a replacement and I would like to see someone come in for the mid to long term, rather than the short term.

Here's all you need to know about transfer deadline day on Friday...

When does the window close?

The transfer window will close at 23:00 BST on Friday, 30 August for the Premier League, English Football League and Scotland.

The date was brought forward by the domestic leagues to align with European leagues.

Across Europe, the Bundesliga window will close at 19:00, Ligue 1 at 22:00, La Liga at 22:59 and Serie A at 23:00, but the Saudi Pro League transfer window remains open until 7 September.

Can a Premier League player signed on deadline day play this weekend?

Under league rules, new signings are eligible for the next Premier League game if the club submit the required documents by midday on the last working day before that match.

So any player signed after 12:00 on deadline day would be unable to play in this round of Premier League fixtures.

Where can I see all the confirmed transfer deals on deadline day?

You can find all the deals completed on transfer deadline day within our dedicated confirmed transfers page.

When does the January transfer window open?

Clubs will be able to make transfers again from Wednesday, 1 January until Monday, 3 February at 23:00 GMT. This is the same in Germany, Italy, Spain and France.

How can I follow transfer deadline day on the BBC?

We have this live page dedicated to all the latest transfer news, reaction and analysis.

You will also find regular updates on BBC Radio 5 Live and breaking news across BBC Sport's social media channels, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

There will also be a special edition of The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer and the Red Button from 22:00 until 23:15.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

"Is it….!? We'll definitely get you a cup of tea," smiled Steve Cooper in the opening line of his news conference.

He had just been asked by a reporter, likely to be stationed at Leicester's Seagrave training ground on Friday, about deadline day.

It has not been the easiest of windows for the Foxes but Cooper was insistent on Thursday, before Saturday's visit of Aston Villa, there will be no regrets come the end of it on Friday night.

The signing of Genk attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss for about £21m is getting closer and the Foxes should avoid any late worries with the 20 year old.

In an ideal world, Cooper would have perhaps added another striker. Jamie Vardy cannot go on forever, despite his scoring start against Tottenham, and goals remain the biggest concern.

Abdul Fatawu, Caleb Okoli, Jordan Ayew, Oliver Skipp, Michael Golding, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Facundo Buonanotte are all through the door and Leicester's midfield with Skipp and Harry Winks looks promising.

Once the window closes at 23:00 BST on Friday, he has four months until the January one and must be able to gel the team into one which he said represents him and one which the fans believe in.

Kate Blakemore
Fan writer

Leicester City have made some additions to the squad during this window - the permanent signing of Abdul Fatawu (a previous loanee), Caleb Okoli, Jordan Ayew, Oliver Skipp, Michael Golding and Bobby De Cordova-Reid, along with a loan deal for exciting Argentine teenager Facundo Buonanotte.

However, the $64m question that has been asked for more seasons than I care to admit is: who is going to succeed Jamie Vardy?

The answer is lying in a place that is, sadly, proving difficult to find. The 37-year-old is unlikely to feature in all 38 games this season - although his performance against Tottenham would tell you otherwise - and Leicester are in much need of a player with a decent return, time on his side and the ability to create.

With Tom Cannon's time at the club rumoured to be at an end, it appears the deal for Genk attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss is edging closer to the line.

But, in the words of Lenny Kravitz: It ain't over till it's over.' And with Leicester's attempt earlier in the window to sign Leverkusen striker Adam Hlozek hijacked at the 11th hour by Hoffenheim (thanks seemingly to the sale of Georginio Rutter to Brighton), it seems that transfer windows are no longer a game of monopoly, but more a game of chess.

The creative solution could be hiding in plain sight, with Will Alves - the 19-year-old academy graduate who impressed during his 20 minutes against Tranmere this week.

It would certainly save some cash, but will Steve Cooper take a punt or will he ask the board to recruit externally?

The PSR precipice is clearly restricting Leicester's business, but as a player in this game of chess, we need to avoid a checkmate scenario!

Find more from Kate Blakemore at Leicester Till I Die, external

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Genk forward Bilal El Khannouss is edging closer to his move to Leicester City, boss Steve Cooper confirmed.

The Morocco international is poised to complete a deal for about £21m before Friday's transfer deadline, and before the Foxes host Aston Villa on Saturday.

The 20-year-old, who was born in Belgium, has made 90 appearances for Genk and won the Belgian Pro League's Young Player of the Season in 2023-24.

Cooper said: "The process is definitely in motion, there's no point denying that. It's not completed and I don't want to go too early on it. It's in motion and let's let it complete first.

"You want young players in your team and squad. It's always nice to have a good blend in the longer team and compete week in, week out."

Reports in Belgium suggest El Khannouss has not trained since Monday in order to force a move to King Power Stadium.

"With a bit more experience he might have handled it a bit differently in the past few days," said Genk coach Thorsten Fink at a news conference in Belgium on Thursday.

"Bilal's mind was set on leaving. It was good that we didn't play at the weekend [the match against Anderlecht was postponed] because you know that his mind wasn't on it.

"You need players who are fully focused on their club and not on a transfer."

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Leicester City boss Steve Cooper has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There might be some more transfer activity before the deadline: "Anything is possible, including players going the other way as well as coming in. We are definitely trying to do some things, as we have been for a little while, but we aren't going to sign players that we don't think are going to have the contribution we want."

• Cooper added: "We haven't had one player come to the club and say that they absolutely want to leave, so we are not in that situation. We also aren't in the situation where there is real interest in our first-team players."

• He said Tom Cannon is "attracting a lot of attention" and it is "possible" the striker could leave the club before the deadline, adding: "If he does, it will be a decision the club feels is right. If he doesn't, I will look forward to working with him."

• He confirmed the interest in Bilal El Khannouss from Genk, stating that the process is "definitely in motion - there is no point in denying that" but he was "reluctant" to speak about it because the transfer "hasn't been completed".

• Cooper explained why he signed forward Jordan Ayew: "He can play in a number of positions at the top end of the pitch, so that was definitely one of the added attractions to bringing him here. I was pleased to see him score the other night, it is always good to get your first goal. Hopefully it's the start of many appearances for us."

• There are "no changes to personnel" going into the game. Conor Coady is back from injury after appearing in the Carabao Cup win over Tranmere Rovers. He added: "The bonus from that game was some guys got some well-earned and needed minutes, so everyone is in contention."

• On facing Unai Emery's Villa side: "You have to have belief in your work and the plan - and very much stick to it. We are playing a Champions League team with great success. They have been on the rise now for a couple of years, so you have to respect it, but we've got to ensure that we really take the game to them. We have to believe in our concepts and the effect they can have in the game."

• Cooper praised academy product Kasey McAteer, who received his first Republic of Ireland international call-up: "Congratulations to him. I haven't seen him yet to say that personally, but I will do. Great recognition for him, the club and the academy. It should hopefully encourage him to work even harder now."

• He congratulated Marc Albrighton on announcing his retirement: "Good luck to him for the next phase of his life, whatever he chooses to do. I met him in the car park after the Tottenham game, along with Andy King, and we ended up chatting for about half an hour. I'm fully aware of the importance he had at this club."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news