Leicester City left it very late to sign Steve Cooper a new centre-forward this summer before securing a season-long loan for Odsonne Edouard from Crystal Palace on Transfer Deadline Day.
Kelechi Iheanacho left Leicester City following the expiry of his contract early in the summer, with Jamie Vardy not featuring after the first friendly of pre-season through injury.
Vardy delighted Steve Cooper by making a surprise return to fitness in time to start the opening game of the season in which he scored against Tottenham Hotspur but the injury Patson Daka sustained in the final game of pre-season saw the need for a striker signing become desperate.
Daka will be out for a number of months with his ankle injury, whilst Tom Cannon was clearly not fancied by Cooper and has been allowed to join Stoke City on loan.
Therefore, the fact Leicester managed to secure the services of centre-forward Odsonne Edouard for the season could be crucial to the Foxes’ chances of surviving in the Premier League.
Crystal Palace make surprise decision prior to loaning Odsonne Edouard to Leicester City
Edouard had fallen down the pecking order at Crystal Palace given the upturn in form of Jean-Philippe Mateta since the arrival of manager Oliver Glasner.
Add to this the signing of Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal and it is not difficult to see why the French forward felt he needed to leave Selhurst Park to get game time this season.
This worked out well for Leicester who were able to add depth to their frontline without paying an extortionate fee.
However, if they are minded to try and make Edouard’s move permanent next summer then that is exactly what they may have to do due to Palace’s final act before sanctioning the loan.
According to journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon: “Leicester City loanee Odsonne Edouard signed a new deal at Crystal Palace before he left … for THREE YEARS.
“The shock contract was sorted before the Frenchman moved to the Foxes but protects Palace next summer when he comes back.”
Leicester City hopes of cut-price Edouard deal dashed by contract extension
Edouard’s Palace contract was due to expire in 2026, meaning Leicester would have had hopes that they could secure a low-cost deal next summer should the 26-year-old be a success at the King Power.
Whilst it is understandable that Palace want to protect their asset, it is a little strange that both player and club saw this as the best step given Edouard clearly does not feature heavily in the future plans of the club.
Vardy will remain the main man but, given he is 37, it was of vital importance an alternative was brought in to lighten the load for the veteran.
Edouard will be able to do just that but Leicester fans will hope the former Celtic man can demonstrate an improvement in front of goal given he has scored just 18 goals in 95 Premier League appearances at Palace.
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