Ulloa looking for Foxes departure

LEICESTER striker Leonardo Ulloa is prepared to leave the club with interest mounting from China.

The 30-year-old has been forced to accept a bit-part role and is desperate for more playing time.

The Foxes would like to keep their former record signing but understand if Ulloa is unhappy at the King Power Stadium they would consider selling him in January.

It is understood there is interest in Ulloa from China which would change the dynamic of any transfer chase with Super League clubs able to offer huge fees and wages.

Shandong Luneng pay Graziano Pelle a reported £13.6 million per year after signing him from Southampton for £12 million in the summer.

Swansea had a bid rejected for Ulloa in the summer and Sunderland were interested while West Brom are also monitoring the current situation and Ulloa has options in Spain.

He is a popular figure at the club and remains committed while a Leicester player but it is understood he has struggled with his lack of game time over the last 12 months.

The £8 million buy from Brighton in 2014 is eager to remain match fit for any January move and is open to all options but believes he has proved himself in the Premier League.

He said: “I want to play always. If I don’t have minutes here I need to look for another team. It is difficult for me, the decision.

“I am waiting for the window and waiting for the team and waiting for the manager. I want to speak to him and after we’ll make a decision for the club, for the team and for me also.

“I have a contract here and I need to think a lot about my situation and after that we need to make the decision together.”

Ulloa, who has 19 goals in 85 games for the club — just 42 of them starts, was a half-time substitute in Wednesday’s 5-0 Champions League defeat at Porto with Leicester having already qualified from Group G.

He has not started this season, making 13 substitute appearances, after scoring six goals in 33 games last term to help the Foxes win a shock title but has been relegated to the bench after the big money arrivals of Islam Slimani and Ahmed Musa.

“It is the decision of the manager, we bought some strikers and now the manager it is his decision to play with the other strikers,” he said. “Yes, it is strange for me because last season I had good minutes and some games and now it is more difficult.”

Leicester striker Leonardo Ulloa has struggled for game time this season and came on as a second-half sub in the Foxes 5-0 defeat to Porto.