Leicester City recruit Caleb Okoli is a ‘promising’ signing according to Rob Tanner.
Leicester City are finally getting into the swing of the summer transfer window after suffering the blow of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall departing to Chelsea to play under former Foxes boss Enzo Maresca.
Dewsbury-Hall hit his best ever form in the 2023/24 Championship campaign under Maresca, reaching 26 goal contributions in the title winning season, and will be wanting to repeat those numbers under the Italian manager at Chelsea.
However, Leicester City have responded to show that they are suddenly very proactive in the transfer window ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season, having signed experienced attacker Bobby De Cordova-Reid after he rejected a contract at Fulham.
Steve Cooper has also shown interest in Serie A talent Matias Soule, Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley and former Coventry City man Callum O’Hare.
Leicester City are clearly bringing in players that will look to make an instant impact, however expectations of a short-term impact have been played down by Rob Tanner on new signing Caleb Okoli.
- READ MORE: What Kieran Dewsbury-Hall thought of Steve Cooper after meeting him right before Leicester City exit
Rob Tanner outlines that Leicester City signing Caleb Okoli will need ‘time to develop’
Leicester City managed to secure the signing of defender Okoli, who spent last season on loan at Frosinone alongside Foxes transfer target Soule.
Tanner has suggested that the defender, who has been signed for £12m, must be given time.
Speaking to Talk Leicester City, Tanner said: “He looks quite a promising player.
“Not the finished article by any means, but people need to temper their expectations of some of these players coming in.
“They’ll need some time to develop.”
The 22-year-old has over 50 Serie A appearances across spells at Atalanta and Frosinone, however he suffered relegation with the latter in the 2023/24 season.
Will Leicester City’s Caleb Okoli be able to make an instant impact at the King Power
Despite being just the age of 22, Okoli’s top level experience in the Serie A saw him entrusted as Frosinone’s central centre-back at the heart of a back three.
Okoli also arrives at the King Power Stadium already able to keep up with the standard physically, being both quick and strong.
His abilities in reading the game, something which comes with Premier League experience, may be on the more limited side, however he will have former England international Conor Coady likely in a mentoring role to ensure that the Italy Under-21 defender is able to compete in the higher standard.
The new Leicester City recruit certainly looks like a player that won’t be anywhere near his full potential quite yet, however over 50 matches in Serie A will certainly keep Okoli in good stead ahead of the campaign, and following a successful pre-season period, he will be able to make a positive impact for Leicester City from the get-go.