What Brendan Rodgers must do now Leicester City's transfer reality has been laid bare

If it wasn’t clear before, it certainly is now: Leicester City are in a pickle. They’re the only Premier League team who haven’t made a single signing this summer, and that situation does not look like changing imminently. Before bringing players in, they need players out, and as yet, there are no takers. City’s business is at a standstill.

From the moment the first transfer-themed question came Brendan Rodgers’ way after the 3-3 draw with OH Leuven, he cut a downbeat figure. There was a sense of helplessness as he delivered the reality of City’s situation.

He had big plans for this window and had voiced those to supporters. The first cycle of his tenure had reached its natural conclusion. Fresh impetus was needed so City could start anew and enjoy another sublime three years. But with no new blood, this coming season so far feels like a continuation of the previous cycle. What they won’t want is for that to transform into a downward spiral.

It shows how a few minor slip-ups here and there, a slight dip in squad management and planning, can amalgamate into a problem like this. In hindsight, City have handed out a few contracts that are slightly too long and made a few dud signings. This summer, they’re feeling the effects.

Some of the problems are out of their control. The pandemic has reduced the wealth of all clubs in a world where the money was already concentrated at a few super clubs.

It means City are at the end of the chain. They can’t make signings because they need to sell their fringe players first. But they can’t do that because the clubs who would be interested in buying them don’t have money because they need to sell fringe players to clubs who don’t have money, and so on. With the very elite immune to