Leicester City's indecision and ultimate decision to pass on Michail Antonio is beginning to look like a historic miscalculation in their fight for EFL Championship survival. After training at Seagrave throughout December and into early January, Antonio appeared destined to lead the line for the Foxes. Then-manager Marti Cifuentes also praised the Jamaican.
However, as reported by Leicester Mercury, the club pulled the plug after a minor muscle injury during his trial. Cifuentes cited those fitness concerns in rejection. Yet as Antonio is now in advanced talks with LCFC's relegation rivals Charlton Athletic, it is clear the veteran is fit and ready to contribute.
Different, unproven options for Leicester City
​By turning down the 35-year-old, City generally opted for a high-risk strategy of relying on an unwanted midfielder an out of favour and erratic centre back and youthful inexperience (in spite of promise). The deadline brought four new faces, including Manchester City loanee Divine Mukasa and Chelsea winger Dujuan Richards. Not to mention hopefully influential centre back Jamaal Lascelles and Joe Aribo.
Mukasa has admittedly looked like the real deal, netting a lovely goal and assist on his full debut against Southampton. Yet, as the Foxes' subsequent 4-3 collapse in that same match proved, flair and potential are no substitute for the streetwise leadership of a proven Premier League talisman in tier two.
Possible error of judgement
​Rejecting a battle-hardened striker like Antonio (who was available on a free transfer) to lean on teenagers in a high-pressure relegation scrap is a potentially perilous move. If the striker finds his scoring boots at Charlton and fires them to safety at Leicester's expense, the decision to let him walk will be remembered as a catastrophic oversight.
"Free agent Michail Antonio in talks with Charlton Athletic"Bet365
In a league where physicality and mental toughness often trump raw talent, the King Power powers-that-be may come to regret choosing a spreadsheet of prospects over a fit, motivated Michail Antonio.
The awful car accident and fracture simply must have been on City's medical minds when considering a pay-as-you-play contract possibility. Whereas goals from Patson Daka or Jordan Ayew keeping LCFC up feels fanciful.