Even though they lead the Championship standings with a dominating lead, Leicester City would have preferred to add players in January. Although several players were connected, King Power Stadium did not welcome any new faces.
Stefano Sensi, a midfielder for Inter Milan, was said to be on his way. But a move in the latter stages failed.
It has now surfaced that the Foxes witnessed a second late attempt fall through to a deal. According to Brazilian writer Bruno Andrade for UOL Esporte, Leicester City attempted late in the transfer window to wrest center-back Gabriel Pereira from Gil Vicente.
However, the Portuguese elite team remained steadfast and resisted the attention of the Championship leaders. Before he joined PSG, Pereira was seen as a Foxes target in lieu of Lucas Beraldo. While a contract may be resurrected in the summer, Gil Vicente would not approve a winter relocation.
Pereira would be worth a look if Leicester City decides to go back to the transfer market in the summer to find another center-back. Given that they will have more time to find a successor, it appears that Gil Vicente will be more open to a trade at that time.
It’s possible that the Foxes require an additional back-up option. Callum Doyle is primarily a left-back option, but he is only here on loan from Manchester City. Since Jannik Vestergaard’s contract is also up, Enzo Maresca may be able to add one or both of them to his roster.
Over his year at Gil Vicente, Pereira’s reputation has grown. This season, he has made 19 appearances in all competitions, contributing two goals while maintaining a consistent starting position for Portugal.
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