Leicester City’s Odsonne Edouard and Southampton’s Maxwel Cornet may have their loan agreements terminated before the January transfer window, according to reports. Both players, signed on season-long loan deals during the summer, have struggled for playing time at their respective clubs.
Edouard, who joined Leicester from Crystal Palace, has made just six appearances and played 113 minutes across all competitions. The French forward has not started a single league match, with his last appearance coming as a substitute during Leicester’s 3-0 loss to Manchester United. The club is reportedly considering ending his loan early to create space for another loan signing in January. Currently, Leicester’s two permitted loan spots are occupied by Edouard and Facundo Buonanotte, who arrived from Brighton earlier in the season.
Similarly, Southampton is considering terminating Cornet’s loan from West Ham. The Ivorian winger has played just four times in the Premier League, with his last appearance in the competition occurring at the end of September. Most of Cornet’s playing time has been limited to Carabao Cup matches, including victories against Everton and Stoke City. Southampton, like Leicester, has reached the maximum number of loan players allowed, including Lesley Ugochukwu, who joined from Chelsea.
Premier League rules restrict clubs to a maximum of two loaned players in their squad at any time. Additionally, no club can have more than four loan signings in a season or more than one loanee from the same team simultaneously.
The January transfer window, which runs from January 1 to February 3, presents a critical opportunity for clubs to adjust their squads for the second half of the season. Both Leicester and Southampton may seek to reconfigure their rosters by freeing up loan slots through early terminations of Edouard’s and Cornet’s agreements.