Leicester City manager Steve Cooper has received a major blow regarding the future of one of his transfer targets.
Leicester City have prioritised preparing for life without former midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who achieved 26 goal contributions in the 2023/24 Championship season.
Since Dewsbury-Hall moved on to Chelsea to play under former Foxes boss Enzo Maresca, Steve Cooper has made signings across the pitch, notably Caleb Okoli from Atalanta, and Bobby De Cordova-Reid from Fulham.
Michael Golding has also arrived at the King Power from Chelsea, however the former Nottingham Forest boss is far from finished with his transfer dealings.
Further options in the centre of the park have been looked at, with Matt O’Riley from Celtic and former Coventry City midfielder Callum O’Hare noted as sufficient Dewsbury-Hall replacements.
Cooper was looking to bring an attacker in to bolster his options, however he has received bad news on the transfer front with one of his main targets choosing a move to Serie A giants Roma over the Premier League.
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Matias Soule chooses Roma over Leicester City
Leicester City have been dealt a major blow in their ongoing pursuit for winger Matias Soule from Juventus.
The Argentinian attacker has reportedly opted with a move to Roma, and if there was the possibility of choosing between the two destinations, he would prefer the Giallorossi’, according to Gianluca DiMarzio.
The winger was reportedly allowed to leave the Serie A giants Juventus for a fee of £30m, with Roma reportedly ‘ready to meet this assessment’.
Soule spent a season on loan at Frosinone alongside Leicester City new signing Okoli, where he finished as the clubs’ top scorer with 12 goals in Serie A.
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A massive blow for Steve Cooper and Leicester City
Cooper had rightfully targeted the wide areas as a position which needed extra reinforcements ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
With Leicester City’s budget not quite stretching enough to be able to get a proven Premier League goalscorer through the door, they were always going to have to take a gamble on a wide player, something that would have likely paid off with Soule.
Despite getting relegated with Frosinone last season, he showed that he can still perform whilst under the cosh in the top leagues.
For a similar price, Cooper will struggle to find a target with as much promise, potential and goal scoring ability as Soule did, who was able to perform at the highest level in Serie A.
Leicester City will have to regroup in the necessary pursuit of a Premier League standard winger, however they have certainly lost out on a gem in the Argentinian winger.