Journalist Fabrizio Romano has unraveled the mystery behind Leicester City’s inability to finalize a deal for a player highly regarded by manager Enzo Maresca.
Leicester’s Ascent and Transfer Window Overview
Currently dominating the Championship with a comfortable ten-point lead, Leicester City’s urgency for new signings during the January window was low. Despite their strong position, the addition of new talent could have boosted their squad as they eye a Premier League comeback.
Maresca was keen on strengthening the team, with Inter Milan’s Stefano Sensi emerging as a significant target after being linked with a move to the King Power Stadium. Sensi’s anticipated transfer, however, did not materialize, and he returned to Italy.
The Foxes also managed to retain key players amidst interest from other clubs, notably keeping defender Harry Souttar from Everton’s clutches and refusing to sell to Championship rival Leeds.
The Inside Story on the Stefano Sensi Deal
Fabrizio Romano took to X to detail the stumbling block in the Sensi transfer saga. The deadlock was due to disagreements over the loan fee and payment structure between Leicester and Inter Milan.
Romano shared, “Stefano Sensi completed a medical at Leicester City, but the issue was the loan fee and payment terms between the clubs. Maresca had his eyes set on Sensi from the beginning of the window, but the deal fell through. Sensi is set to return to Milan on Friday.”
Missing out on Sensi was a setback for Leicester, depriving them of adding his talents to their squad. Sensi’s quality is evident from his performances in Serie A, and he has been praised by peers such as Kwadwo Asamoah for his significant impact at Sassuolo.
Looking Ahead
Leicester City may revisit their interest in Sensi in the summer, especially if they secure promotion to the Premier League, which could be more enticing for the 28-year-old midfielder. Maresca’s admiration for Sensi’s abilities means a future bid could be on the horizon, as the manager seeks to bolster his team for challenges ahead.