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Why Leicester didn’t sign 23-goal striker during transfer window

By Elliot Mackness

SITTARD - Leicester City target Georges Mikautadze of Ajax during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Fortuna Sittard and Ajax at the Fortuna Sittard Stadium on September 3, 2023 in Sittard, Netherlands. ANP GERRIT VAN COLOGNE (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)
SITTARD - Leicester City target Georges Mikautadze of Ajax during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Fortuna Sittard and Ajax at the Fortuna Sittard Stadium on September 3, 2023 in Sittard, Netherlands. ANP GERRIT VAN COLOGNE (Photo by ANP via Getty Images) /
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Leicester City brought in Tom Cannon on deadline day, but that might not have been where it ended. Here is the news on the missing signing.

The King Power club were looking to move on Zambian international striker Patson Daka after Kelechi Iheanacho appeared to have gained the starting spot and Enzo Maresca has employed a system unorthodox for the forward. However, the player did not move away from the Foxes, and will instead face life without the backing of the head coach.

Some would have us believe that Leicester were prepared for Daka to make a switch and had another player in mind to take his space in the squad. This could even had been prepared to replace the Nigerian international if a move materialised: after all, there were rumours that both the strikers would leave.

Leicester City’s missing transfer

Georges Mikautadze was targeted as the prolific forward was in a rich vein of form in Ligue 1 with Metz. The player has not appeared as much for his new club Ajax, but the 22-year-old is still a devastatingly clinical striker, just with very little flare to his game. Much like Iheanacho: just a solid talent.

Those reports would have us also believe the signing would have cost around £15m, and would have been sanctioned if a transfer away happened for Daka who was almost a Bournemouth player before the end of the window. With no move for the Zambian forward, Leicester City had no space in their squad and thus were forced to abandon the move.

So, what are we missing out on? Depending on how well the Georgian forward adapted to the new division, quite a lot. With 35 appearances in the 22/23 campaign, Mikautadze contributed a total of 31 times: 23 goals and eight assists. These are prolific and extremely good numbers, even despite the gulf in quality in the French leagues.

dark. Next. Leicester must negotiate new contracts with these players ASAP

Maresca may not have got his man, but they did managed to get nine other deals over the line. The Foxes have strengthened in defence, weakened in midfield, and significantly improved their attacking lineup.

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