Leicester reject chance to sign Premier League star and club to announce arrival of £3m alternative
Leicester are set to announce the £3million signing of Parma right-back Woyo Coulibaly, talkSPORT understands.
He foxes They are yet to strengthen their squad this month as the club seeks to avoid immediate relegation to the Championship.
The Midlands side turned to the 25-year-old after deciding not to sign Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters.
Walker-Peters, in the final six months of his contract with St Mary's, has been linked with a January exit.
The Saints have put an asking price of £7million on the 27-year-old, but Leicester deemed their valuation too expensive.
Constant concerns around the club. PSR Compliance It is believed to be a major factor in their decision not to pursue Walker-Peters further, despite him being available for a reduced fee.
As a result, Ruud van NistelrooyThe team has turned to Coulibaly after an impressive season in Serie A so far.
Leicester have wanted to strengthen their defensive line after enduring a difficult first half of the season, finding themselves languishing in the Premier League relegation zone.
They have conceded 44 goals in the first 20 games, the second most in the division.
Many fingers have been pointed at full-backs, with James Justin in particular coming under increasing scrutiny.
The one-capped England international has suffered multiple long term injuries and looks like a boost of confidence on the right side of Leicester's defence.
Some of Justin's team's goals are due to a lack of defensive support from the other Leicester players, but many fans have seen enough, and calls for Justin to be removed from the starting XI are growing louder by the week.
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Ricardo Pereira was Leicester's right back last season Championship title racebut an injury to the Portuguese defender has left Justin as the only recognized right back in the squad.
As such, recruiting a replacement has been high on Leicester's agenda, with the club now closing in on the signing of Coulibaly from Parma.
Coulibaly has participated in 14 Serie A games this season and has contributed two assists.
Leicester continue to walk a fine line between wanting to strengthen their squad in a bid to escape the drop and not creating further financial pressure for themselves, especially with relegation becoming a real possibility this season.
The club has profitable assets in Danish goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and newcomer Bilal El Khannouss.
But there would be a clear reluctance to part ways with either of them mid-season, with survival still very much the goal.
