There is money for Ruud van Nistelrooy to spend this January should the Leicester City manager’s squad assessment show new recruits are necessary.
The City manager has previously said he discussed transfers with the hierarchy during the interview process last week, but has now confirmed that he has received assurances the finances are there to do deals. Asked if funds were available next month, he simply replied: “Yes.”
But it’s not the priority for van Nistelrooy right now. First, he needs to assess his squad over the next month to determine if and what City might need to do in January. But he adds that discussions have been held over the summer transfer window too, with the Dutchman planning for the future.
“We had a conversation about that (transfers) in London before I signed,” van Nistelrooy said at his press conference on Friday afternoon. “We spoke about that, the winter window, and also towards the summer.
“We also said that at the same time there’s no rush to do things. I agree with that. The squad is now getting opportunities to prove themselves over this month, which is a great month to work together and play together. There’s time after that to make a good assessment, when I’ve seen the players with my own eyes, and we can make decisions in January.”
If City don’t bring any players in next month, there will still be fresh faces at the club, with new coaches expected. Van Nistelrooy was joined by his assistant Jelle ten Rouwelaar in the dugout on Tuesday and a couple more coaches are expected to join the ranks soon, with Ben Dawson, Andrew Hughes and Danny Alcock sticking around.
Van Nistelrooy added: “I’m open to working with people here, which we have done, and which is going really well. There’s a possibility to take some of my own people that I can work with.
“One is here, a goalkeeping coach, Jelle ten Rouwelaar. But there won’t be massive changes, we’re talking one or two people, which we can add to help the current people here. We can have a good group of people working together as coaching staff.”
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