Leicester City encountered mixed fortunes in the summer transfer window this season.
Steve Cooper signed nine players and all of them have had varying degrees of success.
On the one hand, you have Facundo Buonanotte, who has become an instant fan-favourite. On the other, you have the likes of Bobby De Cordova-Reid, whose highlights reel from his time at the King Power Stadium would be rather short.
Another one of those close to falling into the latter category is Odsonne Edouard. Signed on loan from Crystal Palace on deadline day, the Frenchman has started one game for the Foxes and only made four appearances.
Edouard was named among the substitutes for Leicester’s Carabao Cup Fourth Round tie against Manchester United, with Cooper preferring the likes of Kasey McAteer and Jordan Ayew instead, meaning there are plenty of question marks about the decision to sign the forward.
Leicester’s decision to sign Odsonne Edouard is looking like a major mistake
There was no doubt that Edouard was brought in to play second fiddle to Jamie Vardy.
At the time of his arrival, the Foxes were short of options in the striker position after allowing Tom Cannon to join Stoke City on loan and Patson Daka out with a long-term injury.
But with Vardy now 37, there was recognition that he was going to need some help. Edouard was the solution to that, well at least on paper he was.
So far the 26-year-old has started one game – a disappointing performance against Walsall – and come off the bench in the other three.
In fairness, his sub appearances have given him little time to make an impact and despite drawing a blank against League Two opposition, has not been given much time.
With Leicester chasing a goal against Nottingham Forest last week, Cooper opted to bring on Boubakary Soumare instead of the forward. A damning indictment of the Leicester boss’ thoughts.
Therefore it feels that this move looks seemingly destined to be a flop and people at the club must be scratching their heads as to why they didn’t approach other targets.
Leicester should go back in for exciting forward in January
Should things not pick up, terminating Edouard’s loan isn’t something that should be ruled out.
If that is to be the case, the Foxes will still need a new striker and they should go back in for someone they had already targeted.
Fotis Ioannidis of Greek club Panathinaikos was of interest to the Blues in the summer but had a £23m bid rejected for him.
At 24, Ioannidis has plenty of time to develop and also has all the attributes to succeed at the King Power Stadium.
His hold-up play will allow the likes of Buonanotte and Stephy Mavididi to flourish, and having worn the armband for his club at such a young age already, he possesses the leadership traits this squad desperately lacks.