Leicester City were incredibly active on the outgoing front during the winter transfer window.
Ruud van Nistelrooy only signed right-back Woyo Coulibaly before the window slammed shut but let go of four players.
Tom Cannon completed a £13m switch to Sheffield United while young Leicester right-back Brandon Cover moved to League Two side Fleetwood Town and Hamza Choudhury joined the Blades.
Will Alves was also loaned to Cardiff City, completing his switch on transfer deadline day, with the 19-year-old earning a chance to play regular first-team football.
Alves made his debut for The Bluebirds in an FA Cup tie against Stoke City on Saturday afternoon, and Cardiff fans have now reacted to his display.
Cardiff City fans already ‘falling in love’ with Will Alves
Alves became Leicester’s youngest player in the FA Cup when he made his debut against Watford in January 2022 at the age of 16.
The midfielder made his second appearance in the competition for Cardiff, coming off the bench in the 82nd minute with the score at 3-3 against Stoke.
The game ended up going to extra time, with Cardiff prevailing 4-2 on penalties but it was the performance of Alves that got the fans talking.
Despite him only playing a fraction of the tie, the Englishman made an instant impression on the contest, with some fans claiming they’re ‘falling in love’ with the star.
“Great cameo from Will Alves, think I’ve got another case of falling in love with a loan player if that’s the standard,” one fan wrote.
“I’m gonna fall in love with another loan signing. Will Alves looks some player,” another commented while a third replied: “Let’s try not fall in love with Will Alves.”
“Alves gives us something really different! Also showed that Colwill in the 10 with proper players supplying him is how we get the best out of him,” a fifth commented.
“Will alves is some footballer,” a sixth replied while a seventh said: “What a player.”
Will Alves’ stats vs Stoke City
Alves suffered an ACL tear towards the end of 2022, stunting his progress as a player coming through the academy, and not returning till the start of 2024.
The talented midfielder was denied a year of his development but there is hope a loan spell can see him rapidly progress in the Championship.
As seen by the above comments on him from Cardiff fans, Alves has already showcased his precocious talent and his statistics from the game make for excellent reading.
Will Alves stats vs Cardiff
- 100% pass accuracy (10/10)
- 4/6 ground duels won
- 4 crosses into the penalty area
- 2/3 successful dribbles
- 1 shot on target
- 1 successful tackle
Cardiff travel to Portsmouth in the Championship on Tuesday night and Leicester’s teenage sensation will hope he’s done enough to warrant making his full debut.