‘FEW NEW FACES ARE NEEDED...’
CITY HAVE NOT GIVEN UP HOPE OF SIGNING ARGENTINIAN SOULE FROM JUVENTUS
STEVE Cooper is set on adding “a few new faces” at Leicester City in order to give the current squad a lift, writes Jordan Blackwell.
The City boss has already welcomed four signings to the King Power Stadium this summer, and says the club are working on other deals.
Cooper wants more than just one or two recruits, knowing that transfer activity can further lift the morale in the squad.
An attacking midfielder is a priority, with City targeting Juventus’s young Argentinian star Matias Soule, pictured.
Reports from Italy insist the 21-year-old prefers a move to Roma and won’t consider leaving for England.
But money talks, and Juventus could push Soule towards City if their offer is best.
A move to City, Roma, or fellow suitor West Ham is not close, though.
Soule is currently in Germany at Juventus’s pre-season training camp.
Beyond that deal, a new striker and a new full-back are likely to be targeted, with another central midfielder and another winger the focus thereafter, if there’s money and time to get the deals done.
To make room, and to make cash, sales will be required.
“We’re really hungry to get to work at Seagrave and continue to build,” Cooper said after City’s training camp in France last week.
“Hopefully, we can add a few new faces, which I know the club are trying to do and are working really hard with.
“That will give the guys a boost as well. We’ve had two very good weeks, but we need to make sure the next week is even better.”
Also boosting morale are victories in preseason. While not decisive, results and good performances will build confidence going into the season.
After beating Villarreal 2-1 in a 120-minute match on Saturday, City play their first public summer friendly at Shrewsbury tonight - and Cooper wants more of the same.
“We played some really good stuff, and with our ideas as well, which is the most important thing as well,” Cooper said after the victory over Villarreal.
“There were one or two things that didn’t go quite right and that’s good as well, because that’s how you learn and get better.
“You need to look at those things and talk about them for the future.”