Steve Cooper could be left frustrated once again as Champions League club Girona look to pip Leicester City to one of their winger targets this summer.
This summer was always going to be crucial to Leicester City‘s hopes of staying in the Premier League.
Therefore, the departure of manager Enzo Maresca and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea was not the greatest preparation for the new season.
However, the funds generated from both exits meaning the club hope to have avoided another PSR breach has allowed Steve Cooper to invest on the Leicester squad in the time since.
That has seen six players brought in, with Oliver Skipp the most recent having sealed a £20 million move.
Cooper will still have wishes of further additions, with a striker and a winger particularly high on his list of priorities.
Leicester City look set to miss out on Watford winger Yaser Asprilla
Winger Abdul Fatawu signed permanently this summer after spending last season on loan at the King Power and impressed in his Premier League debut.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid also joined on a free following the end of his Fulham contract but his fortunes on his Foxes debut were very different to that of Fatawu as he struggled in a left midfield role.
Leicester appeared close to resolving their lack of depth on the flanks with a loan move for Wilfried Zaha from Galatasary but that looks to have stalled.
This has seen Leicester revive their interest in Watford winger Yaser Asprilla who looked set to join Rennes for £21 million earlier this summer but Cooper could be left frustrated once again.
That is according to journalist and Girona shareholder Ivan Quiros, who posted on X: “Girona FC is currently the top candidate to sign Colombian winger Yaser Asprilla (20).
“The player is willing to come (in this sense we have an advantage over Leicester City) and the terms of the contract with the player would not be a problem but negotiations need to be held and an agreement reached with Watford FC.
“Although Girona are willing to make an unprecedented financial effort in the club, there is a gap between what we currently offer and what the English team demands. Formulas are being sought to make the transfer cheaper.”
Difficult for Leicester to compete with Girona for Asprilla
This is another blow for Cooper, who will have been left concerned by his side’s display in their 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Monday night despite taking a point.
Spurs could easily have been out of sight by half-time and it wasn’t until Jamie Vardy scored against the run of play in the 57th-minute that the Foxes began to compete.
It is difficult to envisage anything other than a relegation battle for Leicester this season and a winger and centre-forward would really help in their bid to stay in the Premier League.
Girona’s interest makes winning the race for Asprilla very difficult, though.
Not only can Girona offer Asprilla Champions League football this season, but they are part of The City Group meaning that the 20-year-old could see a move to the La Liga side as a pathway to a future Manchester City transfer.
If Girona wrap up a deal for the Colombian then Leicester will have to quickly re-focus their efforts on an alternative option.