IG has abundant financial resources but finds it hard to invest!

Recently, an industry insider revealed that IG's management decided to renew contracts with the entire roster for one more year. After this news broke, many IG fans felt disheartened, believing the management prioritized "popularity" over results. Fans who watched last year's matches know that IG’s bottom lane support Meiko was a consistent weakness, playing so cautiously that they rarely initiated team fights. Meanwhile, jungler WEI showed very inconsistent performance — sometimes dominating opponents like ONER, other times making costly mistakes that lost games.

Because many fans were unhappy with the new season lineup, some went to Zhu Kai’s livestream to ask for the truth. Zhu Kai stated that IG’s management never planned to renew all player contracts. So far, only TheShy and ROOKIE have signed extensions. The other three players remain unsigned. The management acknowledges that IG’s current roster is unlikely to win the championship, so they are closely watching LPL transfers. Whenever a strong player appears in the transfer market, IG is ready to spend money to acquire them.

However, Zhu Kai also revealed in his livestream that IG’s transfer situation is awkward. IG was the only LPL team to make big profits last year, so management is confident about investing in the LPL. As long as TheShy and ROOKIE remain, IG will have no shortage of sponsors. Despite having lots of money, IG’s transfer points are limited because these points depend on the team’s yearly performance and youth academy results. This year, IG disbanded their LDL youth team to assemble a star lineup, which caused their transfer points to drop to sixth place.

Liu Qingsong will retire next year.

Many fans also wonder if Meiko will stay with IG. Zhu Kai said Meiko’s performance throughout the year was mediocre, so his situation is similar to mid laner Scout — neither is in the top tier of LPL contenders. There are many supports stronger than Meiko in the LPL, so Meiko’s transfer rumors and discussions are quite low. (Meiko’s form declined sharply; last year he was a first-team LPL support and even won Best Support of the Year, but since joining IG, the bottom lane has been at a disadvantage almost every match.)

Besides Meiko’s transfer, Zhu Kai talked about other star supports in the LPL during his livestream. For example, WBG’s support Liu Qingsong plans to take a break next year, and WBG will focus on developing rookie support erhao. Zhu Kai claims his information source is very reliable and rarely wrong. Liu Qingsong’s recent performances have disappointed fans; from being the strongest LPL support initially to now “Liu Shen,” his retirement alongside LWX to create some show content sounds fitting.

Lastly, many fans want to know if BLG’s support ON will leave the team. During the transfer period, insiders revealed ON might join IG. Zhu Kai said BLG’s management would never let ON go. Although ON faced some controversy in the off-season, his competitive ability remains strong. (After learning ON will stay, many fans are curious who BLG’s new AD will be. Zhu Kai previously mentioned changes in BLG’s bottom lane duo, so with ON staying, ELK is likely to leave.)

Conclusion

If IG wants to qualify for Worlds or win the championship, I believe they cannot afford disadvantages in at least three lanes. Although GALA is very reliable in team fights, his laning phase is somewhat weak, possibly due to support MEIKO holding him back. What do you think — will IG renew all contracts during this transfer period? If not, who could replace GALA and WEI?