Decision on £15m transfer blocks Leicester City from opening up nine potential deals
Decision on £15m transfer blocks Leicester City from opening up nine potential deals
Odsonne Edouard has reportedly turned down a £15m switch to MLS side Atlanta United in a decision
that could have an impact on Leicester City’s January transfer window.
The South London Press report that Edouard has said no to a move to the US,
despite Atlanta submitting an offer to his parent club Crystal Palace,
and so he remains under his loan contract at City. That means, as things stand,
Ruud van Nistelrooy cannot bring in another Premier League player on loan this month,
as clubs are limited to two at any one time, with Edouard and Facundo Buonanotte taking up City’s spots.
Edouard has not played a single minute under van Nistelrooy but cancelling his loan contract would come
at a price.
That the French striker appears less inclined to move to the US is also a problem because it’s
one of the few countries he could play in. Having represented both City and Palace this season,
Edouard would not be permitted to play for another club in Europe before the summer.
But if Edouard does move on, either through a City decision or a Palace sale,
there will then be a possibility of bringing in a player on loan.
Here’s a look at nine potential candidates to target.
Victor Lindelof
City need to improve their defensive record and Ruud van Nistelrooy may feel Manchester United’s Lindelof can do just that. The Swede has only started four games this season and two of those came during van Nistelrooy’s interim spell, so there looks to be a level of trust there. He’s been injured for more than a month, but is now back in training, and so could yet move.
Tyrell Malacia
The Dutch international has reportedly been told he can leave Old Trafford with the Red Devils targeting Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu, and maybe City could offer him a temporary home. A new left-back is not out of the question this month, and while a knee injury kept Malacia from featuring for van Nistelrooy, the manager will still know him well, especially from his time at Feyenoord, where his level of performance earned him a big move to United.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Do City need a central midfielder? Probably not. But an exception could perhaps be made for Dewsbury-Hall. It feels like there’s no player who would do more to try to save the club from relegation. However, while it may once have seemed like he was destined for the exit at Chelsea, he made his first Premier League start for the club in Monday’s 3-1 win over Wolves.
Ben Chilwell
Totally out in the cold at Chelsea, could Chilwell be tempted into a return to the King Power Stadium? He would be a decent option to bomb down the left in the advanced full-back position, although there would be question marks over his fitness after such a long time without playing.
James McAtee
City came very close to signing McAtee when they were in the Championship, but he instead went back to Sheffield United on loan and proved his Premier League quality, even if the Blades were relegated. With Omar Marmoush signing for Man City and Oscar Bobb returning from injury, McAtee may be allowed to leave. And while he usually plays centrally, he can operate on the right wing, where Leicester are short of options, and where he helped create Erling Haaland’s goal at the King Power Stadium last month.
Emi Buendia
Another attacking midfielder who can play wide is Buendia. After a year out, he’s been back involved at Aston Villa this season, although not all that often, and so the Argentinian may be keen on more regular football elsewhere.
At his best, Buendia is a terrific playmaker, and maybe City could help him rediscover his top form. And if there’s talk of Leeds being interested, surely City could tempt him too.
David Brooks
A great ball carrier, and a player who can be counted on to provide goals and assists, Brooks would be an ideal loan recruit for the right wing. But his availability may depend on Bournemouth’s injury situation.
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