Leicester City can’t sign January transfer target Craig Dawson, even if his current club cancel his contract.
Dawson is reportedly in talks with Wolves to terminate his deal early after finding himself surplus to requirements under Vitor Pereira.
The Foxes spoke to Wolves about a swap deal involving Dawson and current defender Conor Coady which would see the former Wolves legend return to Molineux in exchange for Dawson to come to the East Midlands.
Talks between the two soon broke down and despite identifying players in four positions, Ruud van Nistelrooy was unable to bring in one of those priorities: a centre-back.
At this moment in time, Leicester have a spare space in their 25-man squad, meaning that they could add a free agent to their ranks.
But, even if they wanted to, their deadline day target won’t be the player in question.
Leicester won’t be allowed to sign Craig Dawson
Free agents can be signed by Leicester in this window – but there is a catch.
As per Premier League rules, only free agents who were without a club before the end of the window are eligible to join mid-season.
Since Dawson is still tied down to a contract at Wolves, the 34-year-old wouldn’t be able to play until next season at the earliest as part of the registration rules.
If he were to leave, the former West Bromwich Albion man would be allowed to join clubs where the transfer window is still open.
The most likely of those would be a transfer across the pond to the MLS as their window remains open until mid-April.
Wolves boss confirms Craig Dawson is not in plans
Wolves were very busy in the transfer window in comparison to the Foxes.
Leicester target Nasser Djiga was one of two central defenders to move to Molineux in the winter window which has left Dawson further down the pecking order.
Pereira confirmed during a recent press conference that he had spoken to the club about the issue and that he wouldn’t be in his plans going forward.
The Wolves manager said: “I gave the information in advance to the club that if we bring in another centre-back, I will not have space for Craig in the squad.
“This is something that I spoke with the club (about) for a long time.
“I had a conversation with the player and I respect the player a lot, and I respect his career. But his profile is not the profile that I’m looking to build the team around.”