Reports from Italy say City have rejected an approach for central defender Caleb Okoli, who has started their last three Championship fixtures alongside Ben Nelson
Leicester City have reportedly turned down an approach from Italian side Cremonese over centre-back Caleb Okoli, declaring that he won’t be leaving this month.
Okoli’s future at the King Power Stadium has looked uncertain at various points during his 18 months at the club, with frequent links with a move back to his native Italy.
But right now, he’s in their starting line-up, and Sky Italia transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio has said that City point-blank rejected Cremonese’s interest in the 24-year-old.
There were no details over whether it was a loan or a permanent offer, but City’s stance means Okoli won’t be joining the club he helped to promotion four years ago.
Okoli was loaned from Atalanta to Cremonese early in his career and played 27 games to help lift them out of Serie B.
The club have been relegated and promoted back to Serie A in the years since, and now have City icon Jamie Vardy on their books.
They’re going well this term, defying pre-season relegation expectations, sitting 12th after 17 matches.
Okoli has partnered Ben Nelson over the past three City matches and kept Jannik Vestergaard out of the line-up on New Year’s Day, the Dane recovering from a head knock but only included as a substitute.
City are unlikely to want to let Okoli go because of Harry Souttar’s continued injury problems, and because of the doubts around Wout Faes’ future. The Belgian is understood to be seeking an exit in order to boost his World Cup hopes.
For the first time this season, Faes was left out of the City squad at Bramall Lane, with the likes of Bade Aluko and Wanya Marcal chosen on the bench ahead of him, suggesting the centre-back has played his final game for the club.
Julian Carranza was also absent as he gets set for his City loan to be cancelled, with the Argentinian then set to seal a permanent transfer from Feyenoord to Mexican side Necaxa.