Russell Martin concerns, Harry Winks future - Leicester City questions answered

Leicester City will enter a new era this season after back-to-back relegations have left the football club back in League One for the first time since 2009.

A dismal campaign in the Championship saw the Foxes relegated to the third tier and change is in the works. The first box to be ticked is the manager, quickly followed by transfers and rebuilding the squad.

There is plenty of work to be done at the King Power Stadium. Long-time squad members Ricardo Pereira and Patson Daka have walked away and question marks sit next to nearly every other first-team player. And that's before any new manager - or Gary Rowett should he stay - give their thoughts.

We have been asking you for your questions on all things Leicester City and here, our Foxes Correspondent Josh Holland provides some answers...

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Karl asks: Do you think if Russell Martin is named the new Foxes boss, the divide between fans & owner will widen ever further apart with renewed anger to the owner & hierarchy?

It probably will, whether that's right or wrong, is down to opinion. The reaction to the news over the weekend that he is the club's primary target says it all. My view on that particularly is that, as long as Martin wins games of football and earns them promotion back to the Championship, the 'divide' would not widen.

Doubts over managers, especially in today's world with social media, are a given. There were similar doubts over Steve Cooper and the fans were proven to be right. But with Martin, my view is that some of the criticism is too personal.

The ownership and hierarchy need to bring a manager in who will be successful, play a specific brand of football and reset the culture within the club. The decision can't be made to please everybody.

To answer your question, perhaps. But I don't necessarily think some of the anger, I'm talking about serious levels of personal attacks, are justified. Being dissatisfied with an appointment is perfectly normal, it's a gamble the club are taking and Martin will have to prove them wrong if he gets the job.

Harry asks: Do you think this is one of the most important transfer windows in the club's recent history, and how important is it that we get it right?

100%. The window after they won the FA Cup in 2021 was the chance to build on their success and they got it wrong, it's my starting point of what has been a sorry demise. In 2023, when they were relegated to the Championship, I think they got it right in some parts, though.

But this summer, it's vital they don't get it wrong. There's three pillars behind City being successful in League One this season: the manager, signing players to fit that manager's system and then getting rid of a chunk of the squad that has been relegated for two straight seasons.

The window doesn't open until June 15 and the financial year doesn't refresh until July 1. Concerns about a lack of business so far are fair, but also ahead of schedule. Work will be underway in searching for players for that level and receiving enquiries for players.

I don't think it would be amiss to suggest that nearly every player is 'saleable' this summer, maybe taking the youngsters like Bade Aluko, Jake Evans and Louis Page out of that group. Selling the players and freeing up room on the wage bill is one thing, but then replacing them is another.

Again, if what we're hearing is to be believed and Martin is indeed in advanced talks, a manager should be through the door at Seagrave before pre-season testing at the end of the month. That then gives them plenty of time to work on the squad.

SlatePitFox asks: Do the club realise or acknowledge that fans like me feel that there is no forward direction from the club?

Of course. There is no way that the club doesn't realise the frustrations around the fans at the moment. Khun Top's interviews at the start of the year addressed it, as did his short interaction with a supporter after relegation was confirmed in April.

Despite the criticism received for the changes made, the club have altered their 'senior leadership' group with James McCarron coming in as sporting director. That is a tweak that changes something.

In the recent survey by the Foxes Trust, one of their calls for action was communication of a "credible" five-year plan. In response, the club acknowledged the findings and stated they remain "committed to ongoing dialogue with supporters and supporters groups".

The club also held meetings with the Fan Advisory Board through the Fan Engagement Framework - something the Foxes Trust called for a rest of. The notes from the recent meeting were published online in the last week and senior staff members were present to listen.

Time will tell whether they act on anything. Time is needed, although the large proportion of the fanbase would rather more acts of change now - understandably so! The first piece of the puzzle is the manager and that will make sense of the direction going forward.

TobyLCFC asks: What players do you think will be sold at Leicester this season?

*insert Leicester City squad of 2025/26 season*. Realistically, anywhere near 10-15 players could follow the already confirmed free transfers out of the door this summer. The big assets of Abdul Fatawu and Jeremy Monga are both expected to leave and secure Premier League moves.

Below them are the likes of Caleb Okoli, 24, Oliver Skipp, Harry Souttar, Ben Nelson, Jannik Vestergaard, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Victor Kristiansen. All would do a job in League One, but also - apart from Nelson - been part of two relegations.

There's also Harry Winks. He signed for the club from Tottenham to return to the Premier League, but isn't likely to be keen on a season in League One. He has one year left on his contract, doesn't have any relationship with the fans and is one of the club's biggest earners - although talk that he's earning £90k-per-week is wide of the mark.

What sort of players do you think would work in Russel Martin’s system?

On the subject of Winks, there will be concerns that Martin's possession-based style of play would suit Winks. Every team he has managed keeps the ball and he's got a track record of having a brilliant ball-playing midfielder in the middle of the pitch. But it is hard to see the former Spurs man staying.

Jakub Stolarczyk's distribution has been debatable at times (67.1%). To put that into perspective, Gavin Bazunu was Martin's goalkeeper at Southampton and he had a 85.95% pass success rate.

In terms of players that we could see come in, I'd predict athletic, tough, ball-players. There's actually something in what players Martin prefers to bring into his teams. At MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton, a large proportion of players signed were British and the ones who weren't (minus Joel Piroe from Feyenoord and the odd European arrival) came on the back of playing in the Football League or Scotland.

Looking at the best passers in League One, the likes of Oliver Norwood, Ryan Wintle (who is a free agent now), Lewis Wing and George Johnston would all fit the criteria. Even players like Ben Cabango (who worked with Martin at Swansea), Barry Bannan and Cameron Burgess in the Championship are the sort of profiles you can expect to see linked.

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Every day, the LeicestershireLive football desk strive to deliver all manner of news, features and transfer-related stories as a part of our overall package of Leicester City content.

Our dedicated reporter Josh Holland - who you can follow on X - follows the Foxes home and away and offers you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between.