LPL transfer window is about to open; AL manager hints at possible roster changes after the World Cup

Greetings to all LPL viewers and League of Legends summoners, this is World of Esports.

The LPL playoffs have entered the loser’s final stage, with only three teams remaining competing for the championship and MSI spots, while the other teams have already started their break, preparing for the third split.

This also means that the LPL will usher in a new round of transfers, and this time some team managers can no longer stay silent.

AL manager reveals the team may undergo roster changes

AL failed to achieve good results in both the first and second splits this year. Last year, AL was the LPL team with the greatest potential to defeat Korean teams, going to the final game against T1 in the World Championship before falling short. Logically, AL should have been a top-tier force in the LPL and continued striving for great results this year.

However, they failed to perform well in both splits. After losing the first split, AL directly terminated the contract with Korean coach Helper and brought in Coach Bigwei.

The second split saw slightly better results, but still fell short of AL’s expectations.

At this point, AL’s manager Aixiao could not sit still either, revealing in a fan group that the team might make roster changes. He mentioned that changes could happen after the team finishes EWC. Netizens responded that the person AL should replace most is Aixiao himself—the most arrogant manager in the LPL, constantly bringing bad karma to the team. Now he has no grounds left to be cocky.

Considering AL’s current lineup, they indeed lack the ability to compete for good results. If they still want to achieve something in S16, changing the roster is the only option.

AL’s multiple issues exposed; analysis of possible roster changes

It’s worth mentioning that last year many viewers suggested AL replace their bot lane. Aixiao once said they wouldn’t make changes, though there were rumors about replacing Flandre. In the end, no one was swapped out. Aixiao’s stance was that the five players themselves didn’t want changes, but now he might have to reconsider.

Let’s briefly analyze AL’s problems. First, this team was never about having the highest individual talent. They relied more on teamwork, tactics, and macro play to win. It’s unlikely for AL to overpower opponents through individual skill, so their ceiling was somewhat limited from the start.

Last year, the jungle and support delivered outstanding performances, and other players were trustworthy except in top-tier matchups, which allowed them to achieve certain results. Moreover, AL was a team that trained relentlessly all year, sacrificing sleep and adopting an all-or-nothing approach. After last year, fatigue was bound to set in.

Currently, the two players most questioned by viewers and deemed most replaceable are Flandre and Hope, which is indeed the case. But AL also has a hidden underperformer—mid laner Shanks—whose performance is far worse than fans realize.

AL has room to strengthen, but achieving good results remains difficult

Shanks’ biggest issue is the mismatch between his team status and actual performance. He consumes a lot of team resources but fails to deliver the expected damage or impact, rarely taking risks to create openings. His playstyle is passive, and although his stats sometimes look decent, his presence on the map is negligible.

Compared to Flandre, however, Shanks has the advantage of age and room for improvement. Besides, quality mid laners are extremely scarce, making it unlikely for AL to replace him.

As for the top and ADC positions, there are indeed replaceable players available among the teams that fell into the Resurrection Group after being in the Summit Group earlier. It remains to be seen whether those teams are willing to trade. For instance, WBG’s Elk and Zika—WBG was rumored to be disbanding. If that’s true, WBG’s roster would be up for grabs, with other teams scrambling to sign players.

Another top laner, 369, is currently resting. Personally, I don’t have high expectations for him—it’s unlikely he’ll return to form. In short, AL does have room to upgrade, but achieving good results will still be tough. From a purely spectator perspective, the jungle and support packing their bags and joining other teams might actually be a better path to success.