With interest in Bilal El Khannouss, Kieran McAteer and Abdul Fatawu – Sunderland reportedly made a £28 million bid for the latter this week – Marti Cifuentes’ Leicester City press conference was understandably dominated by transfer talk.
Speaking as Leicester prepare to take on Charlton Athletic for the first time since 2014, Cifuentes would obviously have preferred to focus on his pre-match preparations.
The former Queens Park Rangers boss is determined to ensure Leicester City bounce back from last week’s shock defeat at Preston North End. So the ongoing speculation surrounding El Khannouss, McAteer and Fatawu is a distraction he, and the Foxes as a whole, could do without.
El Khannouss is expected to join Crystal Palace as a replacement for the Arsenal-bound Ebere Eze.
Ipswich Town have reportedly bid for McAteer too, after big-spending play-off champions Sunderland lodged a £28 million offer for Abdul Fatawu.
So, while Cifuentes is predicting plenty of intense ‘speculation’ between now and deadline day, Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris is also long enough in the tooth to know what this time of the year entails.
Abdul Fatawu during Manchester United FC v Leicester City FC - Premier League
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Sunderland coach Regis Le Bris asked about Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu
Le Bris’ Sunderland obliterated West Ham United 3-0 in their first Premier League fixture in eight years last weekend. New signings Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra excelled in the centre of the park, displaying the potential of a midfield trio capable of doing a lot more than merely surviving in the top-flight.
When asked specifically about Sunderland’s alleged interest in Abdul Fatawu and Bologna defender Jhon Lucimi, meanwhile, Le Bris admitted that there is still more business to be done on Wearside.
“We still want to reinforce the squad if it makes sense for the balance,” Le Bris said after Nordi Mukiele arrived from Paris Saint-Germain and took Sunderland’s summer spend over the £140 million mark.
“It’s still possible [to strengthen] in the backline if we find the right player at the right level and with the right mindset. We still have one option, maybe. But if it’s not the case, we’ll stay with what we’ve got.
“There’s a lot of speculation, which is positive for everyone.”
Sunderland recently made Nordi Mukiele their 12th signing of the summer
Well, maybe not Leicester. ‘Positive’ is not the first word which comes to mind when thinking about the potential departure of a handful of key first-teamers.
“If it’s possible to reinforce the squad with the right profile we’ll move forward,” Le Bris reiterated when quizzed on that reported near-£30 million Fatawu offer. “But it’s not just our question. It’s a question of the player and the club, so we’ll see.
“The last week can always be a bit crazy and chaotic but at the minute we are well organised and working together, so if someone can lose their mind the other one can catch them.
“We don’t have much recruitment to do right now, so if it’s possible to sign one or two more players maximum, we will. If it’s not possible, we’ll stay like that.”
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Marti Cifuentes expects further ‘speculation’ as Ipswich and Crystal Palace plot Leicester raids
EFL Analysis were informed last week, via chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that Ghana international Fatawu is on the radar of David Moyes’ Everton too.
Versatile full-back James Justin is a target for Leeds United, while two-time Champions League runners-up Valencia are interested in Patson Daka and Harry Winks.
“There are ten days left and I assume there’s going to be a lot of speculation,” Cifuentes said during his own press conference.
“If someone needs to leave because we feel that’s the best for the future of the club, we will move on, and we will then find a player to help us be better.
“We’ll see if [any sales] happen but, again, it’s just speculation at the moment. At this stage of the window, there’s always a lot of activity.