The summer of 2014 was a big one for Leicester City.
Leicester had just gained promotion to the Premier League having spent a decade outside of the top-flight.
Nigel Pearson’s squad certainly needed investment and quite remarkably, there were doubts about whether Jamie Vardy could cut in the big league.
So, Pearson was eager to bring in a striker and searched far and wide to sign one to support Vardy and David Nugent.
And, they were trying to pull off a shock deal to sign one of the best strikers in Premier League history, but ultimately, it didn’t materialise.
Leicester City almost signed Jermain Defoe
According to Sky Sports, Leicester were in talks to sign then-Toronto striker Jermain Defoe in 2014.
Pearson and City chiefs wanted to meet Defoe, who was interested in retiring to England after just five months in the MLS.
Toronto general manager Tim Bezbatchenko confirmed at the time that an unnamed club had submitted a bid for the England international.
“We have received an offer and have discussed it internally. When you have scored as many goals as he has, and have the reputation and background that he has, then it’s not uncommon to receive these offers.
“We have received multiple offers before, and in the course of this year, so I want to confirm that we are in talks.
“We are not 100 per cent committed in what we are doing and we have to sit down and talk about what is the best plan of action.”
Leicester ended up signing Leonardo Ulloa
Leicester didn’t manage to pull off the Defoe deal as he ended up signing for Sunderland the following January.
Pearson instead signed Leo Ulloa for around £8m after an impressive season in the Championship with Brighton and Hove Albion.
Ulloa became a fan favourite and scored some crucial goals in the title-winning season, including the famous earthquake strike against Norwich City.