Leicester City transfers: Celtic claim rejected as Foxes complete €15m deal

Leicester City and the Steve Cooper era are up and running with the first transfer of the summer, seeing Bobby De Cordova-Reid sign for the Foxes on a free transfer.

The versatile striker joined from Fulham and signed a three-year contract to add options to Cooper’s squad in the final third.

However, that’s not the end of it, City are believed to have more pots currently in the offing – here’s a rundown of the latest transfer gossip.

READ MORE: Leicester City’s transfer strategy and budget explained

READ MORE: Leicester City squad numbers available for Bobby De Cordova-Reid and new signings

The defender is preparing for a move of 15 million euros

Leicester City are closing in on the signing of Atalanta centre-back Caleb Okoli, according to reports in Italy. Some in this country have even suggested that he had a doctor.

Town a €15m (£12.7m) deal is said to have been agreed for the 22-year-old defender.

The former Italy Under-21 international spent last season on loan at Frosinone in Serie A, playing 34 times as they finished 18th to suffer relegation. A relegation to Serie B does not appear to have affected Okoli’s reputation, however.

The 22-year-old came through the youth ranks at Atalanta, but after spending a few seasons on loan, managed just 17 senior appearances for the club. Before a year at Frosinone, he also spent time with SPAL and Cremonese.

Return to the Midlands?

Former City favorite Kasper Schmeichel has emerged as a possible transfer option for Wolves amid reports that Arsenal are “planning a shock move” for Dan Bentley.

The Sun’s transfer pundit Alan Nixon claims the Gunners want Bentley, 30, as a third cover option for his former Brentford team-mate David Raya, who is currently an understudy for the no. one of Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsdale.

Bentley failed to make the first team at Wanderers due to the form of Jose Sa ahead of him and the report claims that Wolves boss Gary O’Neil is “looking for a new back-up with Kasper Schmeichel, 37, an option. .”

City signature “near perfect”

Playing under Steve Cooper at Leicester City is the ‘perfect fit’ for new signing Bobby De Cordova-Reid and it’s easy to see why.

There is a strong chance that Cooper will introduce a back-three system at City, one that he used to guide Nottingham Forest to promotion and then used on occasion in the Premier League. In that lineup, there is fluidity in the front three.

This is where De Cordova-Reid comes in. During his time at Fulham, the Jamaican international played on the wing, behind the striker or up front. On occasion, he was even recruited at right back.

It was easy to move him around the pitch, Fulham boss Marco Silva said, because he had such a good tactical understanding of the game.

“Tactically, Bobby is almost perfect,” Silva said last year. “His understanding of the game is very good. He understands what the team needs.

“The Premier League is not just about individual quality. It’s the tactical understanding. Bobby can understand all of these situations. Sometimes it doesn’t appear in the highlights. He scored some important goals, but at all times he is important.

“Bobby may not look it, but he’s one of the guys with drive. It doesn’t have to be vocal. He is important in our team. That’s why I made him one of the group captains.”

Long goodbye?

Wilfred Ndidi is no longer a Leicester City player. With June in July, the Nigerian midfielder became a free agent.

That doesn’t mean he has turned down the chance to stay at the King Power Stadium. But equally, it feels like time is passing.

Town are about to return to pre-season training and Steve Cooper will assess his squad to determine where they need to strengthen in the transfer market. At some point, they will have to take it on Ndidi don’t turn around and look elsewhere.

Over the past few weeks, Ndidi has been linked with a number of clubs, but those rumors were quickly shot down. This week it was reported that Celtic had also been offered the chance of a reunion with Brendan Rodgers, but almost as soon as the story broke, there have been other reports rubbishing the claims.

There has also been talk of contract offers from Everton and Marseille for the midfielder. But local Liverpool media say the Toffees are not interested, while in the south of France, Ndidi’s wages are said to be too much for Marseille.

What is City’s next transfer priority? Have your say here