Leicester City transfer news and rumours: £2.5m deal close, Man Utd battle and Premier League player eyed

Day 12 of the transfer window is now upon us and Leicester City could be closing in on their first signing of January.

It’s been a pretty slow start to the 2025 winter transfer window for Ruud van Nistelrooy and co.

However, Leicester City continue to be linked with players and could now be nearing their first addition of the month.

With that in mind, we have rounded up all the latest transfer news and rumours coming out of the King Power Stadium.

• READ MORE: He left Leicester City for free, now he’s won two international trophies and outperforming Facundo Buonanotte

Leicester City close in on Woyo Coulibaly transfer

At last, the Foxes could finally be about to make a signing this month.

News first broke that the Midlands outfit want to sign Woyo Couliably from Italian side Parma on Friday evening.

How much Leicester will pay for Coulibaly has since been revealed, with a €3m (around £2.5m) transfer fee touted as well as a four-year contract.

• READ MORE: Leicester City fans make very harsh James Justin claim despite QPR brace – one thing is clear

Leicester City rival Manchester United for Francesco Pio Esposito

While fans are no doubt pleased to see a full-back seemingly on his way to the club, the Foxes are also being linked with a striker.

Leicester are battling Manchester United for Francesco Pio Esposito of Inter Milan, according to reports emerging from Italy.

The 19-year-old has been on loan in the Serie B with Spezia Calcio since the start of the 2023 season and currently has nine goals to his name in 2024/25.

Matt Targett of interest to Leicester and Brentford

Finally, Leicester could be set to add to their full-back ranks with the signing of Premier League player, Matt Targett.

Leicester and Brentford are both interested in Targett, who Newcastle United are willing to let leave in January due to his very limited minutes this season.

The left-back has only played 11 minutes of league football this term after missing large parts of 2023/24 due to injury.

It’s clear 56-touch Leicester City ace who created one big chance must now start every game after QPR

Leicester City ended their winless run in style on Saturday, completely smashing Queens Park Rangers.

The Foxes were without a win in five ahead of kick-off at Loftus Road with some fans likely fearful of an FA Cup upset.

QPR are 13th in the Championship but their league form has improved of late and they were very capable of causing a shaky Leicester backline problems.

The away side went in front after eight minutes but a very poor Harry Winks pass gave The Hoops a way back into the tie ten minutes later.

Leicester continued to create chances and were 3-1 up before Winks floundered again to hand the home team a second goal right before the break.

It was all Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men in the second half, however, with a comfortable win eventually secured.

James Justin scored a brace while there were big displays from the likes of Facundo Buonanotte and Bilal El Khannouss as Leicester beat QPR 6-2.

• READ MORE: Greenlight for January transfer given as Leicester City battle Brentford for £15m player

Facundo Buonanotte excelled for Leicester City vs QPR

Van Nistelrooy only made three changes to the Leicester team that lost 2-1 to Aston Villa at the weekend.