Leicester City have made their move to fill the dugout, appointing Marti Cifuentes on a three-year deal. He succeeds Ruud van Nistelrooy as the Foxes manager after his tenure ended in relegation.
Their return to Championship action sees them looking to impress in Gameweek 2 of Fantasy EFL, with a home match against Sheffield Wednesday.
The 43-year-old has managed multiple European clubs in the past few years, most recently enjoying a two-year spell with Championship side Queen’s Park Rangers.
His 18th and 15th-placed finishes were impressive considering QPR’s narrow escape from relegation the season before he joined.
Amid a potential points deduction and player departures, can Leicester City do what many dream of doing: bounce straight back to the Premier League?
WHAT CAN FANTASY EFL MANAGERS EXPECT?
His managing style has been hugely influenced by Johan Cruyff’s awe-inspiring Barcelona sides of the late 1980s and early 90s. He likes playing a central press, prioritising possession and making progressive short passing plays.
Cifuentes regularly employs a 4-5-1 system, featuring a false nine to facilitate attacking runs from wingers and full-backs.
A hallmark of the Spaniard’s strategy is also a robust defence, effectively neutralising counter-attacks.
Above all, stability and a clear identity at both ends of the pitch are anticipated.
TRANSFER NEWS
Unsurprisingly, as many relegated clubs face, the summer has been filled with rumours of star exits, most notably Bilal El Khannouss (M).
Following relegation, the attacking midfielder now has a release clause of £22.5m. The 21-year-old was a standout for the Foxes, picking up eight goal contributions in 36 appearances [all comps].
Despite speculation, he’s still at King Power Stadium, and will play a crucial prominent attacking role next season after Jamie Vardy’s (F) departure.
Intriguingly, El Khannouss has played in pre-season games for the Foxes, though such appearances aren’t always indicative of future plans.
Star players such as Abdul Fatawu (F) and Ricardo Pereira (D) have also remained at the club, and are expected to make significant impacts next season.
POINTS DEDUCTION IMMINENT?
Like several other EFL clubs currently under financial scrutiny, Leicester City could face a points deduction for alleged breaches of PSR, stemming from their 2023/24 Championship season. This could see them start the upcoming season with negative points, a situation akin to Sheffield United’s last campaign.
Despite this, with the new season just three weeks away, a pre-season deduction appears unlikely. Sheffield United’s penalty, for instance, was handed down in April of the previous season. As of now, there’s no official announcement.
Having weathered difficult situations before, Cifuentes is a strong leader ready to guide them through whatever comes next.
Ultimately, however, this situation is expected to have minimal direct impact on Fantasy EFL, unless it triggers the departure of key players or leads to a sustained poor run of form.
STANDOUT ASSETS
Stephy Mavididi (F)
The number 10 will undoubtedly play a significant forward role next season, particularly following Vardy’s departure. Mavididi scored 12 goals and provided six assists in 46 Championship games in the 23/24 campaign.
Abdul Fatawu (F)
After missing much of last season, the creative winger is slated to return for the 2025/26 campaign. However, his comeback will need to be monitored closely. He netted six times and assisted teammates 13 times in the 23/24 season. The 21-year-old also managed 20 interceptions that season, strengthening his position as a premium Fantasy asset.
James Justin (D)
The 27-year-old full back is expected to be a highly valuable Fantasy asset due to his elite versatility. The Englishman managed four goal contributions last season in the Premier League, and these numbers will surely improve. With the appointment of Cifuentes, Leicester’s defensive strength and Justin’s attacking role will both surely increase.
