Leicester City and Steve Cooper have had to fully set their sights in looking to replace departed midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after he completed a move to London giants Chelsea.
The 25-year-old midfielder captured the imagination with an incredible 2023/24 Championship campaign, getting 26 goal contributions under former Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca, who he wanted to play under at Chelsea.
Cooper has been proactive in scouring the markets for his replacement and answer to a midfielder with a similar goal threat to Dewsbury-Hall, with Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley reportedly eyed up for a deal.
Former Coventry City midfielder Callum O’Hare has also been identified as a cheaper alternative.
Another player has been eyed up by the former Nottingham Forest boss, who may tactically be his own Leicester City version of Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White.
Leicester City target Matias Soule may be Steve Cooper’s Morgan Gibbs-White 2.0
Leicester City transfer target Matias Soule is wanted by Cooper as he weighs up his attacking options ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
Soule’s mould and stats for Serie A side Frosinone point the Argentinian towards being a replica of Nottingham Forest attacking-midfielder Gibbs-White, who thrived under Cooper.
Whilst Soule was often utilised on the right-wing in his ‘remarkable‘ 2023/24 Serie A season, he was also given the chance to have attacking and creative freedom as an attacking-midfielder, such as in his star performance against AC Milan where he scored and contributed an assist.
Cooper will likely give Soule the role of being the key component in Leicester City transitioning into attack, with the Argentinian youngster having a clear ability to create chances and put pressure on opposition defences, just like Gibbs-White at Nottingham Forest.
The benefits of Steve Cooper targeting foreign markets
It has almost taken Leicester City fans by surprise that Cooper’s side are scouring the foreign markets as they look to build on last season’s Championship promotion success.
Barring a few outliers such as the likes of Taiwo Awoniyi, Cooper looked to often bring in Premier League talent to the City Ground, with Gibbs-White being his main signing, alongside Neco Williams, Anthony Elanga and Chris Wood.
A few signings were made abroad by Nottingham Forest during his time at the club, however with less consistent rates of success, so why has he changed this method with Leicester City?
The English market is one that is certainly on the bloated side with extortionate transfer fees flying left and right.
Cooper has almost accepted that he may not be able to compete to get major English signings through the door without breaking the bank, therefore they have looked abroad.
The signings of players without Premier League experience can be make or break for Leicester City, however it seems as if they may have found a star in Soule, one that they should certainly go in for.
