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Andrej Kramaric makes permanent switch to Hoffenheim

The striker was on loan in Germany and his new club took the option to purchase him permanently after his loan expired

Andrej Kramaric has made a permanent switch to Hoffenheim.
Andrej Kramaric has made a permanent switch to Hoffenheim.
Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images

Leicester City has suffered its first transfer casualty of the summer, as striker Andrej Kramaric left the club on Wednesday for TSG Hoffenheim.

The Croatian striker, who was on loan at Hoffenheim in the German Bundesliga, had a contract with Leicester that was set to expire at the end of June.

Signed from Croatian side HNK Rijeka in 2015, Kramaric was a valued goal scorer, tallying 37 goals in 42 appearances. However, in only 20 appearances with the Foxes in all competitions, Kramaric netted just four goals.

In his short loan spell with Hoffenheim, totaling 15 matches, Kramaric scored five times and added two assists.

The loan deal gave Hoffenheim the option to buy Kramaric permanently, and the club purchased the striker for an undisclosed fee.

The deal is a timely one for Hoffenheim after losing striker and leading scorer Kevin Volland to Bayer Leverkusen. Kramaric will likely become the centerpiece of the offense in Hoffenheim alongside Mark Uth.

For Leicester City, the loss of Kramaric is a blow to the team's offensive depth. With Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki up front along with Leonardo Ulloa as the only reserve, there is a void to fill for the Foxes.

This morning, rumors of a potential reinforcement circulated as CSKA Moscow striker Ahmed Musa was linked with Leicester. Russian media outlets stated that the Nigerian international making a move to England was "very likely."

Musa is a speedy forward with tremendous strength. His size is similar to that of Vardy up front, with both possessing the pace to slice through opposing defenses.

The link to Musa is currently only a rumor and nothing official has been announced. However, his style of play would fit very well in Leicester's system and Musa would serve as a very capable replacement to Kramaric.