Tuchel, Ten Hag & Forest – the big deadline day talking points

Leicester City versus Aston Villa at King Power Stadium on 10 September. Stick a red ring around this game on the calendar.

It is a fixture that has all the hallmarks of a pivotal one for Foxes’ manager Brendan Rodgers and the inspirational leader who was his captain at Liverpool, Villa boss Steven Gerrard.

The pair are under scrutiny after poor starts to the Premier League season.

Their summer transfer activity has been markedly different, with Leicester City creating barely a ripple and Villa’s ambitious owners throwing their weight behind Gerrard.

Rodgers could barely contain his disappointment at his inability to work the markets this summer; the only transfer fee they paid was the £15m to Reims for Wout Faes, a defensive replacement for Wesley Fofana, sold to Chelsea for £70m.

The manager cut a downcast figure after Leicester’s fourth defeat in five games, at home to Manchester United, left them bottom of the table.

Rodgers clearly wanted to do more but could not. What will be the eventual cost be for the club and their manager?

Gerrard was able to bring in reinforcements on deadline day, with Belgium midfielder Leander Dendoncker arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers while defender Jan Bednarek came in on loan from Southampton to cover for the damaging loss of big summer signing Diego Carlos, who has suffered a serious long-term Achilles injury.

Villa also stuck rigidly to their stance that midfield man Douglas Luiz was not for sale despite Arsenal’s concerted efforts to sign the talented 24-year-old Brazilian.

Gerrard has had the backing of Villa’s board but performances have been poor. He needs summer signings Boubacar Kamara and Philippe Coutinho to settle to their task – the latter was a real show of faith from the manager after an underwhelming loan spell, and has been a disappointment so far. The manager must also hope that the deadline day arrivals add something extra.