Limited transfer cash no surprise - Van Nistelrooy

Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has denied he was shocked by the Foxes' inability to spend in the transfer window and says they have to cope with "restrictions".

Defender Woyo Coulibaly was the only signing, arriving from Parma for £3m, while the Foxes rejected Sunderland's offer for midfielder Kasey McAteer on deadline day.

Leicester go to Manchester United in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday with Van Nistelrooy naming teenagers Jeremy Monga, 15, and Jake Evans, 16, on the bench.

Facundo Buonanotte and Odsonne Edouard are on loan from Brighton and Crystal Palace respectively, meaning the Foxes could also not make any domestic loan signings - without sending them back - in the window.

Edouard has made just four substitute appearances while Buonanotte has only started three games since Van Nistelrooy's November appointment.

Leicester also have Profit and Sustainability Rules concerns to ensure they comply with spending limits, meaning they are not in a position to spend large sums.

"The reality is not always as you wish," said Van Nistlerooy. "I was part of the picture and the communication so it didn't come as a surprise, the development from November to the end January, reality set in.

"What we have to deal with, the opportunity and restrictions go hand in hand.

"The idea was that there were certain possibilities, but when the numbers came on the table they were different. We had to reassess, look at possibilities within that framework.

"We weren't able to get them. Simple fact. That is the reality. We tried but the focus was on impact players to strengthen the squad. We did with Coulibaly, we were able to strengthen, but other possibilities weren't possible.

"I am quite pragmatic, get on with it, get the most out of what we have, there is young talent."

Van Nistelrooy returns to Old Trafford on Friday for the first time since he left his role as assistant manager in November following Ruben Amorim's appointment.

He had a four-game spell as interim manager after Erik ten Hag's sacking.

Winger Monga and striker Evans will be among the substitutes having trained with the first-team regularly this season.

Monga was also highly rated by former boss Steve Cooper, who regretted not including him in previous squads, although neither will become a history maker age-wise.

Ashley Chambers is Leicester's youngest player at 15 years and 203 days, making his debut in a League Cup tie against Blackpool in 2005.

Van Nistelrooy said: "The FA Cup is also fantastic to add young players into my squad, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old - they're going to be part of the squad, on the bench tomorrow," he said.

"It's an occasion where these things can happen, opportunities for players.

"The moment I came, coming from the Netherlands, it's a country where you develop players and they sign for teams in the bigger leagues.

"In my time in PSV, it was great to be part of the development of Cody Gakpo, Noni Madueke, Xavi Simons, Jarrad Branthwaite, Johan Bakayoko, Ismael Saibari - it's fantastic as a manager, working with these lads."