Enzo Maresca tempers transfer window expectations with stark warning for Leicester City

Enzo Maresca has warned against expecting a summer party at Leicester City, with a “low-key” transfer window in store.

With City in a “huge financial hole”, there will be no transfer war chest for Maresca to spend on improving his squad for the Premier League. All he can promise is that his side will approach the new campaign with a “fighting spirit” as they try to survive, possibly on the back of a points deduction.

Maresca previously said that any key player sold for financial reasons in the next window must be replaced, but other than that big deals seem unlikely. The manager himself will remain, however, despite hints that he may be considering his future earlier this month.

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“I signed for three years, and after such a positive year there is not much more to say,” Maresca told Gazzetta dello Sport. “The downgrade has left a big economic hole and unfortunately we risk sanctions. There is a possibility that next season he will take some points, as happened this year at Everton and Nottingham Forest.

“And obviously the market will also be discrete. We are out of the Championship and we will face the Premier League with the same fighting spirit.”

City are expected to find out the outcome of the Premier League charge for an alleged breach of profit and sustainability regulations this summer, meaning they could face a penalty in the form of a points deduction before the start of the new campaign. They also risk another charge, this time from the EFL, if they do not balance their books with player sales before the end of June.

Beyond that, they must still be careful to stick to financial rules, especially after losses of £90m were announced for the 22-23 campaign. Chief executive Susan Whelan said last month that the impact of the club’s relegation “will be felt for some time”.

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