Leicester City have reportedly submitted an improved bid for Stoke City and Australia defender Harry Souttar before Tuesday night’s transfer deadline.
The Foxes have been active in the transfer market this month as they attempt to ease their relegation fears. They are 14th in the Premier League but they are just one point clear of the relegation zone.
They have spent around £13m to sign left-back Victor Kristiansen from FC Copenhagen, while Lyon winger Tete has joined the Foxes on loan.
Leicester are now looking to sign Souttar from Championship outfit Stoke City. He has recently recovered from a cruciate ligament rupture but he shone for the Potters prior to this injury.
Brendan Rodgers’ side failed with a £10m offer earlier this window, but Football Insider are reporting that they have now ‘made a new £15m bid’.
A separate report from The Telegraph notes that Rodgers ‘wants to make Souttar his third January signing’.
Leicester believe that he has ‘the qualities and potential to shine in the Premier League’ after he performed well for Australia at last year’s World Cup.
Their new £15m proposal was ‘submitted on Monday’ and Stoke are ‘considering the offer after initially anticipating that Leicester’s interest in the 24-year-old had waned’.
Speaking before Leicester’s new bid for Souttar was lodged, Stoke boss Alex Neil said: “It’ll be highly doubtful, at this stage, that Soutts will be leaving.”
He added: “You’ve got to be careful but it’s important you’ve got what you believe are the best options in the group. There’s no point in keeping people who are going to be regularly 21st, 22nd, 23rd Man. I think for us we want a group that is functional and a group where everyone potentially has an opportunity to play in the team.
“Also a group that when I put them in the team I’m comfortable in doing that because I believe in what they are going to bring to the squad.”
Leicester are also interested in signing Jack Harrison from Leeds United. They made a £20m bid for the Premier League star last week.
The report from The Telegraph adds ‘Rodgers has been determined to recruit young, hungry and ambitious players’. Harrison is a ‘target’ but a deal for him is ‘complicated’.
Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch hinted over the weekend that he wants to keep Harrison.
“Listen, all I’ll say is, I really like Jack first as a person. He’s one of the most incredible people I’ve ever coached.
“We like him here. We want to keep him. He’s performing really well. I think getting him fit and healthy has been a big key. He’s got flexibility in the way he plays.”
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