According to various reports earlier in the week (along with before the past weekend), outlets were strongly suggesting that Leicester City Football Club were about to make a potentially important player acquisition. Former West Ham United centre forward Michail Antonio was the man in question. The Jamaica international had been training with the Foxes at their fantastic Seagrave facility in Sileby, Leicestershire of late.
The speculation, which led our writer Elliot Mackness and others like myself to write multiple expectant articles on the hypothetical (and now seemingly unforeseeable) subject of Antonio eventually joining Leicester, now appears questionable. We weren't exactly led up the garden path or scammed here, yet it feels unlikely that this latest knock the player sustained occurred very recently.
I suspect Antonio was probably injured around January 1, 2026, or prior to that date: as we expected him to sign for the East Midlands side once Julian Carranza was offloaded. The Argentine joined Mexican team Necaxa, incidentally. The narrative pushed seems to be odd in a timeline sense. Yet, this is all academic now: LCFC head coach Marti Cifuentes explained that the one-time Hammers man won't be coming to the King Power.
Although, did the ex-Queens Park Rangers manager hint that any other goalscorers could be acquired by the Leicestershire outfit? Let's have a look.
What happened to Michail Antonio to scupper his Leicester City move and can the Blue Army look forward to a different striker signing?
Foxes of Leicester were collectively gutted to hear on Monday night that Antonio wouldn't be signing. But other options are always on the table, and we should now focus on those prospective possibilities.
The company that made us believe Antonio's inclusion was imminent, talkSPORT, suggest that the 35-year-old suffered an 'ill-timed muscle injury'. After breaking his leg in a terrible car accident, this is a real blow. So will City turn elsewhere?:
"Cifuentes is hopeful he will be able to bring in a fresh face or two...
"It’s something we’re analysing,” Cifuentes said on his plans to acquire another forward.
“Together with the club we have daily discussions about it. We’re going to try to do our best to improve the team if there’s an opportunity to do it."