Leicester City have dipped into the market to make some new signings this summer, but face a crucial second half of the window in order to truly meet Premier League standards
Leicester City continue to be linked with further signings, highlighting the size of the task handed to Steve Cooper.
A club that wins the Championship is usually well-equipped to make some alterations, then attack the new season with confidence. In City’s case the bare bones have been stripped from the team as Chelsea took manager Enzo Maresca and star player Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Some signings have been made to offset the losses, though Cooper still has a job to carry out in order to make sure his team are ready for the season opener against Tottenham Hotspur in exactly one month’s time.
With all of this said, Leicestershire Live provides a round-up of several recent pieces of transfer news and rumours from around the King Power Stadium…
Richard Rios
Most recently, City are said to be rivalling Everton for one of Colombia’s Copa America stars, Richard Rios.
A report from South America outlined the two Premier League clubs’ movement towards the central midfielder, though his club Palmeiras are currently unwilling to sell. That said, the 24-year-old’s value has been set between £12.6-16.8m, so any suitor knows the cost of a potential deal to be struck.
Oliver Skipp
Tracked by both Leicester and Leeds United, Spurs midfielder Oliver Skipp is thought to want to kick on with his career at 23. If that means securing a move away from North London, then so be it.
However, much to Cooper’s frustration it seems a transfer would be blocked by Spurs, ending all hopes before a saga truly gets underway. This is because of Skipp’s homegrown status, which makes him a valuable squad player for European competition in the upcoming campaign.
Matias Soule
Again to the detriment of Leicester, another avenue appears to be closing and there is little say they can have in the matter.
A pursuit of young Argentine winger Matias Soule has excited supporters in recent weeks, with the Foxes vying for his signature alongside AS Roma. Initially it seemed to be whoever first matched Juventus’ asking price would win the race, but now it appears the 21-year-old’s preference of Roma will knock City out of the race entirely.
Rather than a sporting decision, Italian media reports this as a decision over his livelihood and the ease of relocating within the same country rather than another move abroad.
Tiago Gouveia
In a blast from the past, the Foxes were said to have renewed interest in Benfica’s Tiago Gouveia earlier in July. The winger was first linked with a loan switch when Enzo Maresca first took charge in summer 2023, though nothing came to fruition there.
The same fresh report from Portugal stated Cooper and Co, along with Everton and Fulham, were tempting to convince his midfield teammate Florentino Luis into a Premier League move.
The defence-minded individual had previously been on Nottingham Forest’s radar too, and could be open to a new challenge as he finds himself down the pecking order in Roger Schmidt’s plans.
Matt O’Riley
Once Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall exited the King Power Stadium, Celtic’s Matt O’Riley was the first credited with replacing him in the Foxes’ engine.
With big shoes to fill, the Denmark international was backed to chip in with the goals and assists of his predecessor with no issue. The only problem that could stand in the way of O’Riley and the switch to the East Midlands though would be his club’s whopping £50m price tag, which was said to have put off Brighton when they made an earlier approach.
Martin Braithwaite
With an attacking signing potentially on Cooper’s agenda, a return to English football, perhaps even with City, was mooted for former Middlesbrough and Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite.
He had scored 22 goals for RCD Espanyol last season, who subsequently earned promotion. But instead of staying on, the 33-year-old was to ensure his fate lied elsewhere by personally triggering his own release clause.
Since his links he is now said to be on the verge of signing for Europa Conference League winners Olympiacos. Leicester have of course recruited Bobby Decordova-Reid in that time as an alternative free agent.
Ramon Sosa
Back before Cooper had made any additions, a player rumoured to be his first signing was Ramon Sosa. The Paraguayan winger was lighting up Copa America at the time and media reports began to build his profile over in Europe.
The Sun claimed the Foxes were making initial advancements, being told of his club Talleres’ willingness to do business for £15m. Newcastle United, Everton and Chelsea were all linked too, though this deal hasn’t picked up since the rumour began.
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