It has been reported that Leicester City Football Club were looking to move on additional players over the summer. On top of that, there are claims that the Foxes hierarchy, together with manager Marti Cifuentes, were keen on making further signings at Filbert Way.
However, one claim even suggests that the King Power outfit were particularly eager to get one specific deal completed. Although they were unable to offload enough personnel to finance a move for the target.
Millwall’s Mihailo Ivanovic is the striker in question. Was his potential—or even hypothetical—switch to Leicestershire blocked as City scrambled to raise more funds? It’s said that LCFC recouped up to £79 million from departures. Therefore, making a signing around £10m would have seemed both sufficient and sensible. So, what went wrong?
Additions:
In the end, Cifuentes secured four new arrivals to strengthen his Foxes squad. One was an experienced back-up goalkeeper, on whom we will hold off judgment for now. The other three came through on deadline day, of course.
LCFC brought in two midfielders within 24 hours. First, Jordan James joined as a typically effective No.8. Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsey arrived as a fresh playmaker/winger.
Striker Julian Carranza also completed a move to Leicester. This naturally fills the role that Ivanovic was expected to take. Still, having multiple options competing for a single position in the starting XI is always beneficial.
Why Leicester City couldn’t sell enough to fund Mihailo Ivanovic’s transfer:
Essentially, City opted for Carranza over Ivanovic. Yet one report indicates LCFC were still keen to land the Serbian. Unfortunately, the inability to move another forward may have been the stumbling block.
“EFL Analysis’ chief transfer expert Graeme Bailey told us that the inflated squad size, and failure to sell Patson Daka meant that the club couldn’t afford the 20-year-old Serbian.
Leicester rejected a bid for Daka which was far below their asking price of £10m – the same sum Millwall were demanding for Ivanovic.”
Transfer expert Graeme Bailey, speaking to EFL Analysis, adds that the failure to offload Patson Daka sealed the striker’s fate. Foxes supporters will likely be frustrated to hear this, given their general opinions on Daka!