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Attention may be split for Leicester City tonight. While the team is getting ready for a tough test away at Burnley, there will be frantic work behind the scenes, as the club desperately tries to finish up their transfer business before the window closes.
This could be an important transfer window for the Foxes; struggling in the Premier League and looking for reinforcements to bolster two possible cup runs. The month started very promisingly with the arrival of Wilfred Ndidi. The only notable business since then, however, was the sale of Jeff Schlupp and Luis Hernandez, with Matty James moving out on loan to get fitness.
A quieter month than expected has produced a deadline day packed with wild speculation and rumours, most of which will come to nothing.
With all respect for LCFC FANS.
— Jose Leonardo Ulloa (@Ciclone1923) January 30, 2017
I feel betrayed by Ranieri and let down by the club. I will not play again for them...
The biggest story, of course, has been the ongoing saga of Leo Ulloa, who would like to leave for an opportunity to play more elsewhere. After rejecting offers deemed too low, the Argentine was reportedly told that he could leave, so long as an offer of a certain value was met. When Sunderland apparently met that value, however, the new story was that Leicester would not sell to a Premier League rival. You can see why Ulloa would be unhappy, but the club has to come first after all.
Except, of course, we already sold Jeff Schlupp to Palace, who are every bit as much in the relegation battle as Sunderland. The situation could only look more ridiculous if the Foxes were refusing to sell to Sunderland, while still expecting the Black Cats to sell players to us.
Two Premier League clubs ready to fight it out for Sunderland's Lamine Kone https://t.co/CNYR4eT6RO pic.twitter.com/SCg9ttwder
— Sun Sport (@SunSport) January 31, 2017
Fortunately, it’s just the Sun, so we can probably ignore it, especially since it’s been strongly denied since.
Still, with the sale of Hernandez, the Foxes are razor thin at CB and probably are looking to bring one in. The primary target of the window was Francesco Acerbi of Sassuolo, but the Italian club had no interest in selling. Since then the rumours have just kept coming with Molla Wague of Udinese, Kara Mbodj of Anderlecht and Wesley Hoedt of Lazio the most recent to surface.
The only other persistent rumour of an incoming transfer was for Middlesbrough’s Gaston Ramirez, but the attacking midfielder seems to be staying where he is, for now.
We’ll keep a full list of any completed deals as the day progresses, so check back throughout the night (and the game!) for updates.
Completed Deals:
IN
Molla Wagué from Udinese (loan)
OUT
Callum Elder to Barnsley (loan)