Leicester City set to raid Premier clubs for loan players – Milan Mandaric

Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric says the club will again turn to the loan market and bring in young Premier League players on season-long deals.

Liverpool pair Jack Hobbs and David Martin, along with Arsenal's Kerrea Gilbert, bolstered City's League One title push last season.

Mandaric said: "We can have five loan players and it is a tremendous opportunity for us to take advantage of the system.

"We are working on a few things, including one from last year."

Mandaric would not be drawn on identifying the player, but City have remained keen on Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley, who made 15 appearances before dislocating his shoulder in a 1-1 draw with Colchester at the Walkers Stadium on March 21.

And head of recruitment Steve Walsh admitted at the end of last season that Cleverley "may well get some more time" at City, but said that United will dictate the future of the 19 year-old midfielder.

City also struck a short-term deal with Wolves' Mark Davies during last season's campaign.

Hobbs has since signed a four-year deal at City, and Mandaric added: "We have a good chance of bringing in top, young Premier League players on one-year loans, and while we are now looking at bringing in permanent players, we also have a list of potential loan signings."

The City chairman believes manager Nigel Pearson's standing in the game gives him a head-start in attracting up-and-comers from top-flight clubs.

Pearson had a spell as coach of the England Under-21s and Mandaric said: "He is respected by other managers for his abilities, and the fitness and training programmes here at Leicester are also held in high regard."

Mandaric says it is important to get the right balance of loan players alongside new recruits Chris Weale, Robbie Neilson and Dany N'Guessan to build a team which he says can "make the difference" in getting City out of the Championship.

Mandaric said: "If you take N'Guessan, he has all the qualities to play at a higher level than the Championship.

"Then there are others who are Championship players and could make the difference in taking us out of there."

Mandaric said this week that the primary transfer targets will be a midfielder and a striker, and City were yesterday linked with Wolves forward Andy Keogh.

Meanwhile, City's new policy of selling match tickets for all 23 home league matches starts tomorrow.

The club's JOMA home kit also goes on general sale in the rebranded megastore at the Walkers Stadium.

Mandaric said: "There is genuine excitement both inside and outside the Walkers Stadium about the coming season."

The club are also launching membership schemes which will enable fans to receive discounts on match tickets.

"It is a really positive step for the club that we can release all home match tickets, and the move to offer a £2 discount on match tickets to those who choose to join as members is sure to be popular," added Mandaric.