Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea have recalled midfielder Cesare Casadei from his loan spell at Leicester City.
The 21-year-old, who signed for Blues in August 2022, has made 25 appearances for the Foxes this season and scored three goals.
In a statement on the club website, Leicester said: "He leaves with the best wishes of everyone at the football club."
Image source, PA MediaEnzo Maresca says he is "not allowed" to make any signings at the moment despite the club's interest in Inter Milan's Stefano Sensi.
The Leicester boss conducted his pre-match duties a day early before Monday's game with second-placed Ipswich and told the media there were no impending arrivals at King Power Stadium.
"It is now the transfer window and I have already said the same thing many times," Maresca said. "In this moment, we are not allowed. There is not an agreement with any player.
"I have always said the same - in the summer and in the winter. The window is open so anything can happen but if it is going to, I do not know."
On Sensi specifically, he added: "No deal is agreed. I've said he is not our player so it is not worth talking about an Inter player."
Maresca will be missing from the touchline against the Tractor Boys after picking up his third yellow card of the season during the defeat at Coventry on Saturday. He insisted however that his absence would not impact his side.
"There is Willy [Caballero] and Danny [Walker] on the bench," he said. "They will be there to help the team like when I am there.
"There is nothing different or a need to have a plan. I will be able to contact them."
Image source, Getty ImagesFootball Italia journalist Lorenzo Bettoni spoke to the When You're Smiling podcast about Inter Milan midfielder and Leicester target Stefano Sensi: "Sensi is sadly famous in Italy because he has a very long injury history, he's had many muscle injuries and other injuries recently. Last season he was on loan at Monza and he played 28 games which is a decent amount for a player who's had many injuries.
"He's a very good midfielder, three years ago he was included in Roberto Mancini's squad for Euro 2020 but he couldn't make the squad because he got injured. He was in the team so it says a lot about the quality the player has.
"When he joined Inter under Antonio Conte, he was what we would call in Italy a 'Mezzala'. The English translation would be a box-to-box midfielder I would say. He's somebody who can score and assist and contribute in the final third. He has kind of changed now to a deep-lying playmaker.
"He's someone who can play in front of the defence and help the team in the build-up and someone who is very gifted technically. I would be surprised to see Sensi playing as a box-to-box midfielder in a very physical league like the Championship, or hopefully the Premier League next season."
When asked if Sensi can adapt to English football, Bettoni said: "I think so. There's a number of players who have been doing really well in that position, for example Jorginho. They're not exactly the same sort of player because Jorginho is a little bit more structured physically and taller than Sensi but he knows how to find the best position to get the ball and has really good qualities.
"In his first season at Inter, he got comparisons with Iniesta which is of course too much but it says a lot about the potential he has. Great technique, great vision, great sense of position and he can cope even in the very technical leagues."
Chris Forryan, Leicester Till I Die, external
Some things put losing a football game into its true perspective. The news that our former manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has, at most, 12 months to live, does just that.
I can remember the buzz around Leicester when he was appointed. An ex-England manager at what was then a mid-table Championship club was unheard of in those days.
He was only with us for 55 games, but he had a win percentage of 44% better, equivalent to Claudio Ranieri's spell in the Foxes dugout.
I remember driving up from the south coast to watch an evening kick off at King Power Stadium. It was late when he finally finished his post-match duties and it was nearing midnight by the time he got to my son at the back of the queue, but he still had time and a smile for him
A signed picture of him with a LCFC scarf adorned round his neck has pride of place on my wall. On behalf of Leicester fans everywhere, our best wishes go to Sven - a true gentleman of the game.
Image source, Getty ImagesBBC Radio Leicester's Owynn Palmer-Atkin, speaking on the When You're Smiling Podcast about Enzo Maresca's substitutions: "Towards the start of the season, it was four and five [substitutes per game], and plenty of changes game to game. In the Christmas games, he's only made 21 changes from a possible 35."
Foxes fan Henry Pitchers added on Maresca's changes from the bench during the 3-1 defeat by Coventry City: "As the game was going on, I was saying, 'why are we not bringing more fresh legs on?'
"I felt Casadei looked lost - he didn't have the physicality we needed and he lacked a bit of energy. I was surprised we didn't see two more subs and Hamza [Choudhury] coming on earlier.
"In the first third of the season, I liked his substitutions. I felt that he made better decisions than [Brendan] Rodgers was making towards the end of his tenure in terms of timing and the number overall. I think Saturday was the first time I've seriously questioned his decision-making around substitutions.
"It's too early to hint that there's a weakness in Maresca's game management - but let's see what happens for the rest of the season."
Listen to the full episode of When You're Smiling on BBC Sounds
Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper believes Enzo Maresca made changes too late in Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Coventry.
The Foxes played the entire second half with 10 men after Abdul Fatawu's red card but, after making one change at half-time, the Italian manager did not go to his bench again until deep into the second period.
Speaking on the latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast, Piper said: "Halfway through the second half, I was saying it would be a magnificent point if we could hold on for a draw. I thought the first half played out evenly but the situation in the game that changed it in Coventry's favour was the sending off.
"Then we had to become a counter-attacking side. He made the change with [Kasey] McAteer coming on for [Stephy] Mavididi at half-time, you could understand why. He needed to introduce fresh blood into that performance because the amount of running those Leicester players did in that second-half was huge, their legs must have been so sapped.
"Mark Robins rolled the dice, bought some fresh legs on, for Coventry and I thought that extra energy helped them.
"I thought we needed that a lot sooner before Hamza Choudhury in the 82nd minute. That might have helped us. I think the manager has made a mistake here but we have had a terrific season to this point."
Image source, Getty ImagesDefender Luke Thomas has had his loan deal with Sheffield United terminated by mutual consent.
The left-back, who joined the Blades on a season-long loan from Leicester in the summer, will now return to his parent club in the Championship.
The 22-year-old has featured 12 times in Premier League this season and once in the FA Cup, but has struggled for game time since Chris Wilder's return to the club following the sacking of Paul Heckingbottom.
He has played 85 games for Leicester, but had not featured in the first four Championship games of the season.
Image source, Getty ImagesIn the latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast, Owynn Palmer-Atkin and ex-Foxes defender Michael Morrison pay tribute to the club's former manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who announced on Thursday that he is terminally ill.
Morrison, who played under Eriksson, said: "I was really surprised. He is someone who is iconic within English football. The team that he had with David Beckham and [others], you know it's quite nostalgic really. It is a big surprise.
"It's obviously sad news."
Remembering his relationship with his former manager fondly, Morrison added: "There was lots of change at that period of time. I remember Sven coming in and not quite believing it. The last time I had seen his name, he was England manager.
"To be working with some such a high calibre was brilliant. A little bit daunting as well.
"I felt that he was really calm. Exactly what you see in the press. Really present in what's happening and never spoke just for the sake of it.
"He never raised his voice - I never heard him shout. He was a really good influence on the group.
"When Leicester were trying to organise themselves with where they wanted to go and the journey they went on, that ultimately started a little bit with Sven."
Image source, Getty ImagesLeicester City manager Enzo Maresca says the club will have to sell players in order to be able to spend in January.
Inter Milan midfielder Stefano Sensi has been linked with a move to the East Midlands while goalkeeper Danny Ward is potentially on the way out to Premier League side Sheffield United.
"I always said the same - when you are strong and can get stronger, it’s better," Marseca said. "The only thing I can say about Sensi is that I know him and he’s a player I really like.
"We are not allowed to do something. We have to sell to do something."
The Foxes boss also had positive news on the injury front before Saturday's M69 derby with Coventry City.
"Kasey [McAteer] is back and Dennis [Praet] is back," he said. "Jamie [Vardy] and Kele [Iheanacho] are still out. [Vardy]’s better, he starts to train with us [but] he won’t be in the squad for tomorrow."
Maresca was also asked about former Leicester manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who announced on Thursday that he is terminally ill.
"It’s very sad," he said. "It’s always sad. Hopefully he can enjoy the time he has, even if it’s difficult."
In the latest episode of the When You're Smiling podcast, Owynn Palmer-Atkin is joined by former Leicester City defender Michael Morrison and fan Aaron Calvin to preview the Foxes' Championship fixture against Coventry.
Morrison says that striker Tom Cannon has the capabilities to become a feared Championship striker this term.
"You can see that he wants to listen, he wants to learn, he wants to get better and is motivated to improve," he said.
"I am sure he is not the end product and I am sure Everton didn't want to sell him. I'm sure they wanted to see him in their first team because he is a real talent.
"He seems like a really grounded person and wants to improve. Normally, when you score three goals in two games you would go 'right, I have cracked this,' and you can see that he really just wants to improve.
"I think with his trajectory and the profile of him and his attributes, his ceiling is so high. That's why Leicester have signed him. Although £7.5 million is a big expense and it can be seen as a risk, after seeing him play last year and his physical presence, I think his ceiling is really high.
"He will definitely go on to play international football and he will be a success.
"It's really important when you look across at Leeds and Southampton who have Patrick Bamford and Adam Armstrong, that Leicester have that clinical striker."
Leicester City striker Tom Cannon speaks to BBC East Midlands Today about his goalscoring start to 2024 after overcoming an injury-hit start to life with the Foxes.
The 21-year-old had joined the East Midlands club from Everton in September despite medical checks finding he had a stress fracture in his back.
It took more than four months for Cannon to start a game for Leicester, but marked the occasion with two goals against Huddersfield Town.
He then went on to score against Millwall in their FA Cup third-round win a week later.
"It's gone perfect to be honest," said Cannon of his three goals in two games since the turn of the year.
You can read more from Cannon by clicking here.
Leicester City are trying to sign Inter Milan and Italy midfielder Stefano Sensi, 28. (Leicester Mercury, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Image source, bbcOwynn Palmer-Atkin, BBC Radio Leicester
With all the build-up and hype around Saturday's M69 derby at Coventry City, I don’t feel like it’ll touch Enzo Maresca or his players one bit.
Perhaps one of their biggest strengths this season is complete laser-focus towards the task at hand. When they’ve won emphatically they’ve not got too high, when they’ve lost they’ve never got too low.
Heading into a game like this, where there will be pressure on Leicester to go to a side sitting outside the play-offs and win, that skillset will be very important.
They’ve shown in recent weeks the rhythm that they’ve got into, with 11 games unbeaten across the 'tricky festive period' and nine of those being victories.
It has allowed them to race ahead towards the Championship title, sat 10 points clear at the top.
It’s through detailed planning, perfect execution and control-based possession -partnered with unmatched quality in the division - that makes them a real threat to whoever they play.
Maresca has this side ticking and another win this weekend would be another step towards that laser-focused goal.
Listen to more from BBC Radio Leicester's Owynn Palmer-Atkin on the When You're Smiling podcast.
Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca is pushing to bring in 28-year-old Italy midfielder Stefano Sensi from Inter Milan. (Sky Sports Italy - in Italian), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Chris Forryan, Leicester Till I Die, external
So the January transfer window is now open and to quote a well-known song: ‘What is it good for? Absolutely nothing’.
It is a month where if you are looking for players, you are generally desperate because of poor form or injuries. The selling team know this, so they inflate their asking price accordingly.
So how about loan players? These are probably better because the best ones are generally not for sale in this window. So loan them in and see how good they are.
The main criteria for any January signings has to be whether they are better than what we have.
For Leicester, top of the Championship, 10 points ahead of second, 13 ahead of third and 26 points ahead of seventh - I would say any potential new players would have to be Messi-esque to be considered.
Now that Daniel Iversen has left, we have 24 of our 25 squad places filled , and those squad players did not let us down in the Cup last weekend. The youth players are looking alarmingly good as well.
So if Leicester do not sign anyone this window, and I am sure Enzo Maresca will not want to needlessly disrupt the team, I will not be crying.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough has been discussing Cesare Casadei's progress on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast: "The consistency of game time is massively important. Everyone wants to start games, of course you do, but [Casadei] has had to bide his time coming off the bench and getting 10, 15, 20 minutes here and there.
"There's been the odd start and when the start comes there is a different pressure on you to perform. He has had to deal with that and you're asking young players all the time to deal with that because you want to bring them into a squad and side which will make them feel most comfortable.
"He has dealt with that which has been good, so the mentality side isn't a problem and now hopefully performances start to get that bit more consistency and the manager shows more faith in him.
"When you do go out scouting you try and find these young players who you know are a decent talent, but can they deal with going to a club that's playing a maybe slightly higher level?
"He was playing under-21s football at Chelsea, he was brought into a Championship club that is expected to be at the top of the Championship and that brings its own pressures. The kid has got talent, no doubt about that, it is whether he can take that talent and turn it into a reality when he is playing regular football at Championship level? He’s doing that and he is on the way to do that."
