Future phenomenon and a super finisher – four Leicester City transfers that got away

Matias Soule in action for Roma in a pre-season friendly against Everton
-Credit: (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)


By the end of the transfer window, Leicester City had nearly every signing they wanted, but they had to work hard right to the deadline.

That’s because deals earlier in the summer did not come off. In mid-August, Steve Cooper spoke of being “convinced” that two signings had been wrapped up, only for them to fall apart at the last moment.

Here, we’ve checked in with four of the players City were close to signing in the summer to see if the club’s regrets over those missed deals are even stronger now than they were a few weeks ago…

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Adam Hlozek

The Czech forward, so close to joining City before Hoffenheim swooped, took just two games to play his part in a goal for his new side. And it was a former City player who profited.

Starting up front for the second straight week, Hlozek raced past his marker and delivered a teasing cross, putting the ball on a plate for Andrej Kramaric to tap in. Unfortunately, it was merely a consolation in a 3-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt. Hlozek’s debut the week before ended in a 3-2 victory though, with former City striker Kramaric scoring a hat-trick.

Had he joined City, Hlozek may have been thrown straight into the team to face Tottenham on the opening day, but he will get to play Spurs anyway this season. Hoffenheim have been drawn against Ange Postecoglou’s side as one of their eight Europa League group-stage fixtures.

Speaking about Hlozek, Hoffenheim boss Pellegrino Matarazzo said: “He's a very good guy. He had no problems integrating into the team. Of course it'll take time to settle into our processes but he has great dynamism and a super finish. It's fun. He gets on the ball and hasn't tried to get in behind so often so far. We want to incorporate him into our strengths.”

Fotis Ioannidis

Here’s another striker City tried to sign whose start to the campaign has been helped by a former City player. Fotis Ioannidis was the subject of interest from around Europe and the subject of a £20m+ bid from City, and yet he remained a Panathinaikos player.

After 23 goals in 44 games last season, perhaps more would be expected than one in six this term. But his only goal so far, a dazzling solo effort against Lens in the Europa Conference League, proved to be vital.

Ioannidis’s finish in France meant Panathinaikos were only trailing by one for the home second leg of their Conference League play-off, which they won 2-0 thanks to an 85th-minute winner from former City winger Tete. Now, they’re into group stages, where they will take on Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.

Wilfried Zaha

UK tax laws complicated issues of a return to the Premier League for Wilfried Zaha, but he did get out of Galatasaray eventually, joining Lyon on loan. His move came right at the end of the window and so he’s not yet played for his new side, with his potential debut coming against Lens this weekend.

He too will get to play European football, with Lyon in the Europa League. Among their opponents are Galatasaray’s Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce and Besiktas.

Matias Soule

Matias Soule has started all three of Roma’s fixtures so far this Serie A season, but he’s yet to taste victory, with the capital club recording two draws and a defeat so far, netting just once across those games. But Soule’s lack of an immediate impact did not stop him getting his first senior Argentina call-up this international break.

Neither did it stop the high praise from Roma boss Daniele De Rossi. Reflecting on his performances on loan at Frosinone last term: “He did something incredible last championship. The data is comparable to those of his strongest peers in the world, although it was made easier by the fact that he played in the team where he was the most important. When we faced Frosinone last year I told the team to keep an eye on him, he will become a phenomenon.”

Which one of these four would you most like to have seen play for City? Click HERE to have your say.