Leicester transfer news: £51m swoop for Slimani and Silva
Foxes set to unveil double signing from Sporting Lisbon as flop Inler leaves - latest Leicester transfer news and gossip
Leicester City are expected to unveil Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani on Deadline Day as Claudio Ranieri attempts to bolster his squad before the transfer window closes at 11pm.
"Negotiations appeared to have reached an impasse when the Portuguese side insisted they would not sell their top scorer of last season for less than €40m. However, with Claudio Ranieri keen to add to his attacking options in readiness for their debut season in the Champions League, a compromise was reached on Tuesday night," reports The Guardian, which claims the player was today undergoing a medical.
According to the Daily Mirror, Slimani will be joined on the trip to Leicester by team-mate Adrien Silva. Sporting were unable to turn down the huge offer from Leicester for Slimani and have also "admitted defeat in their bid to hold on to Euro 2016-winning Portuguese midfielder Silva after he made it clear he wanted to join Leicester".
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The pair will cost the Premier League champions £51m, with Slimani priced at £30m and Silva setting the Foxes back £21m.
Meanwhile, Leicester have offloaded midfielder Gokhan Inler after just one season, reports the Daily Mail. "Signed for £5m by Claudio Ranieri last summer on £50,000-per-week wages, he lost his place to N’Golo Kante and Andy King was preferred too as the campaign progressed," says the paper, which says he has penned a three-year deal with Besiktas for an undisclosed fee.
The 32-year-old only managed ten appearances for Leicester, but did qualify for a Premier League winners' medal.
There could be another exit if Ladbrokes is correct in saying that Liverpool, in dire need of a new left-back, are close to a Deadline Day swoop for Christian Fuchs.
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The 30-year-old has not agreed a new deal at the King Power Stadium and that "could well play into Liverpool’s hands on Deadline Day", says the bookmaker.
Leicester transfer news: Irish hero Robbie Brady set for Foxes move
28 June
With English heroes in short supply right now following the Three Lions crushing exit to Iceland in Monday's Euro 2016 clash, might Leicester look instead to an Irish idol? According to the Daily Mirror, the Premier League champs "are ready to make a £7m move" for Robbie Brady.
The Republic of Ireland and Norwich midfielder scored against Italy and France at the Euros this month and though the men in Green are now home, the Mirror claims that Leicester are weighing up a move for the 24-year-old.
Brady arrived at Norwich in a £7m move from Hull a year ago and it's reported that he's "admired" by Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri, who is particularly enamoured of the Irishman's ability to play at full-back, on the wing and even in central midfield.
But The Sun says Leicester may have no need for midfield reinforcements as they are "on the verge of signing Nampalys Mendy". The paper claims that they've agreed a £13m deal with French club Nice, one that will see Mendy spend the next four years at the King Power Stadium. French media sources believed that Mendy could be the man to replace N’Golo Kante, who has of late been linked with a £20m move to Chelsea and Arsenal.
Leicester transfer news: Simone Zaza to join Hernandez and Mendy?
22 June
Strapping six foot Spanish defender Luis Hernandez has been unveiled as Leicester City's latest signing. In an announcement posted on their official website the Premier League champions said they were "delighted" to announce that the 27-year-old will join on a four-year deal.
Hernandez arrives on a free transfer after his contract with Sporting Gijon expired, and the central defender boasts a strong pedigree having coming through the Real Madrid youth academy. According to the Foxes, it was his reputation "as a ball-playing defender with an excellent ability to read the game" that persuaded manager Claudio Ranieri to make his move.
And another Latin hotshot who might be at Leicester next season is Juventus striker Simone Zaza. The Leicester Mercury says that the 25-year-old, who is expected to line-up against Ireland later today, wants more game time than he's getting in Turin, where he's been sharing the striking duties with Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata. As a result, says the Mercury, the Italian giants are "prepared to part" with Zaza in return for a reasonable price.
Finally, the Daily Mirror reports that Nice midfielder Nampalys Mendy has had his medical with the Foxes ahead of a £12m move to the King Power Stadium. The move is expected to be confirmed within the next 48 hours and the Mirror adds that Claudio Ranieri is now "pursuing a move for £12.7m Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina".
That only increases speculation that N’Golo Kante will leave the club next month with Chelsea and Real Madrid leading the chase to sign the 25-year-old Frenchman.
Leicester transfer news: Foxes battle Juventus for Lapadula
16 June
Talks are never more exciting than when they reach the "showdown" stage and that's where they are at between Juventus and Gianluca Lapadula, claims Talksport.
The 26-year-old striker is currently on the books of Serie B outfit Pescara, and his 27 goals for the club last season have made Lapadula one of the hottest properties in the Italian game.
Juventus believed they were on course to sign him, but Napoli are said to be interested and Premier League champions Leicester are also determined to land the raw talent, with manager Claudio Ranieri believing he can transform Lapadula that way he did Jamie Vardy.
So worried are Juventus by Leicester's pursuit of the goal machine that Italian media sources report that the Italian champs "have demanded talks with Pescara in an attempt to thrash out a deal".
According to the Daily Express the Foxes are also close to wrapping up a deal for Nice midfielder Nampalys Mendy. The 23-year-old was instrumental in helping the Cote d'Azur club finish fourth in Ligue 1 and the Express claims that Leicester "have been tracking the midfielder over recent weeks". A deal is now expected to be concluded by the end of the month with the Premier League champs ready to pay £9.5m for the French playmaker.
Leicester transfer news: £20m bid for Troy Deeney fails
10 June
Leicester are going to have to Troy again as they look to replace Jamie Vardy at the King Power Stadium.
The Foxes are searching for a sharpshooter to fill the goalscoring boots of Vardy, who looks set to move to Arsenal next month, and their gaze had alighted upon Watford forward Troy Deeney. But Talksport reports that the Hornets have "rejected" Leicester's offer, "insisting their captain is not for sale this summer".
The broadcaster adds that five other Premier League clubs are tailing Deeney, who scored 14 times for Watford last season, but the 27-year-old is too precious for the Hertfordshire club to sell.
It's believed Leicester's offer was in the region of £20m but despite the lure of Champions League football Deeney wants to stay loyal to Watford, and it's unlikely that the Premier League champs will return with a second bid.
That may be why Spanish rag Marca is claiming Leicester are one of a number of clubs chasing Roma striker Antonio Sanabria. The 20-year-old scored 11 goals on loan with Sporting Gijon last season and his form has caught the Foxes' attention as well as that of Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia and Atletico Madrid.
According to Marca "Leicester are ready to put an offer on the table", with the bid believed to be in the region of £10m.
Leicester transfer news: Troy Deeney to replace Jamie Vardy?
07 June
While mystery surrounds the future of Jamie Vardy after weekend reports that Arsenal had triggered his £20m release clause, the Evening Standard reports that Leicester have reluctantly begun the search for a suitable replacement.
It may not be a long search as they Foxes have already started stalking Watford captain Troy Deeney.
The paper says that while the Foxes are moving heaven and earth to keep Vardy at the King Power Stadium, they are also working on a Plan B, and that involves making a move for the 27-year-old Deeney. Watford are "determined to resist" any approaches this summer for the frontman who netted 13 times for the Hornets last season with new manager Walter Mazzarri aware of the importance of Deeney.
Nonetheless, while the Standard says the striker is happy at Vicarage Road "it remains to be seen whether he would be tempted by the lure of Champions League football". Apparently Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri is quietly confident that particular carrot will lead Deeny from Watford to Leicester.
An alternative to Deeney could be Roma striker Antonio Sanabria, and the Leicester Mercury picks up on reports that the fearless Foxes are prepared to take on Barcelona in the battle for his signature.
The former Barcelona trainee caught Ranieri's eye with 11 goals in 29 games while on loan at Sporting Gijon in La Liga last season. Reports in Spain suggest that Leicester are preparing a "significant financial offer" for the 20-year-old's services.