Leicester City’s transfer deadline day: what to expect in signings and departures.
The will-they-won’t-they of Leicester City’s Stefano Sensi pursuit has entered the final 24 hours of the January transfer window with no guarantees it will yet be completed.
City, Inter Milan and the midfielder himself are open to the deal but despite insistent reports from Italy over the past week that it’s all wrapped up, City’s stance has been consistent since the window started: unless a player is sold, nobody comes in. There’s not long to go for that to change.
The candidates to leave on deadline day are Harry Souttar and Dennis Praet, but both moves seem unlikely. For a start Souttar isn’t in the country. The centre-back is away in Qatar with Australia preparing for their Asian Cup quarter-final against South Korea this Friday.
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That means that despite late reported interest from Everton and Sheffield United, a move may be difficult to pull off. Souttar is aware his chances at the King Power are going to be limited and that his fortunes are perhaps best served away from City, who are also likely to be open to a move, especially given Ben Nelson’s breakthrough.
And sorting a deal while a player is on international duty is not out of the question. Souttar’s Australia team-mate Joe Gauci looks set to join Aston Villa from Adelaide United on deadline day.
Praet is the other player who is attracting interest. He’s being targeted by Royal Antwerp back in Belgium as they seek a replacement for midfield starlet Arthur Vermeeren, sold to Atletico Madrid this month.
One issue could be Praet’s wages, with suggestions from Belgium that they are too high for Antwerp to match. The 29-year-old has also now come back into contention under Enzo Maresca, starting the past two matches.
