Leicester City have received a boost in their pursuit of a new striker, as one of their targets is now available for free.
Since taking over as manager, Steve Cooper has already added four new players to the squad, aiming to prepare the team for the Premier League. The club has had to quickly adapt following the departure of their promotion-winning manager and key player, with Enzo Maresca and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall both moving to Chelsea.
Abdul Fatawu has joined permanently from Sporting Lisbon after a successful loan spell, while Michael Golding and Caleb Okoli have been signed from Chelsea and Atalanta respectively. Additionally, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, a free agent, has been acquired, bringing significant Premier League experience.
Leicester is now looking to secure their fifth signing of the summer at no cost. With Kelechi Iheanacho’s contract expiring and Tom Cannon potentially heading out on loan, Jamie Vardy, 37, and Patson Daka could be the only striker options left.
The club is reportedly interested in Espanyol striker Martin Braithwaite, who recently scored 22 goals to help his team secure promotion back to La Liga. Initially, Braithwaite had a £500k release clause, but he is now available for free after activating a clause in his contract, as reported by Danish outlet Tipsbladet. The report indicates that Braithwaite has been in talks with Leicester.
Braithwaite’s career has been unusual. Despite not being a prolific scorer—he netted nine goals in 40 games for Middlesbrough—the Denmark international made a controversial move to Barcelona in 2020. This transfer occurred outside the regular window as an emergency measure following an injury to Ousmane Dembele. His departure from Leganes, where he was performing well, led to their relegation.
Luis Suarez praised Braithwaite upon his arrival at Barcelona, stating: “Martin is going to surprise people. He was the best player at Leganes and can reach his potential at Barcelona with the quality of players around him.”
While Braithwaite may not be the marquee signing Leicester fans were hoping for, he could be a valuable addition to Cooper’s striker options without significantly impacting the transfer budget.
