Steve Cooper may now be ruing one of his key transfer decisions made during the summer window at Leicester City.
Tasked with replacing the popular Enzo Maresca, Cooper faced a tough challenge as he stepped into the King Power dugout.
Maresca had guided the Foxes to a dominant Championship campaign, and fans were eager to see how the Italian might perform in the Premier League.
Upon arrival, Cooper had to brace his squad for a potential relegation fight while also addressing the loss of key players, such as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Kelechi Iheanacho. The summer transfer window saw Leicester secure nine new signings, though some have performed better than others.
One player who has impressed is Facundo Buonanotte. The Argentine, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, delivered an eye-catching display in Leicester’s 2-0 win over Bournemouth just before the international break. Buonanotte has emerged as one of the club’s standout players in 2024/25 and is currently their joint-top scorer.
Cooper’s Transfer Error in the Striker Department:
One area where Leicester urgently needed reinforcement was up front. With Kelechi Iheanacho departing on a free transfer, Jamie Vardy approaching his 38th birthday, and Patson Daka struggling to make an impact in the Premier League, the need for attacking firepower was glaring.
However, Cooper’s attempts to bolster his forward line appear to have fallen flat. He opted to sign Jordan Ayew from Crystal Palace for £8 million and later returned to Selhurst Park to secure Odsonne Edouard on loan. Unfortunately for Cooper, neither move has had the desired impact.
Ayew’s performances, in particular, have been underwhelming. Despite featuring regularly, the Ghanaian forward has failed to score in his seven Premier League appearances so far.
Given the outlay on a player whose recent form was already questionable, this signing is starting to look like a misstep.
Time for Edouard to Step Up:
With Ayew struggling to find the net, Cooper will now be hoping Odsonne Edouard can make a greater impact in the coming weeks. Leicester’s goal-scoring woes are apparent, with no player managing more than two goals in the Premier League this season.
Edouard, however, has yet to seize his opportunity. He was disappointing in Leicester’s Carabao Cup clash against Walsall, missing a chance to impress.
Moreover, the loanee has been largely sidelined in the Premier League, receiving just one start and accumulating only 24 minutes across the last three matches.
For Cooper, the solution might lie in giving Edouard a consistent run in the side. With Leicester desperately needing a reliable goal scorer, the Frenchman could be their best hope of turning around their fortunes in front of goal.
While the season is far from over, the pressure is mounting on Cooper to address the misfires in his forward line. If Edouard can deliver, the manager might yet salvage something from what is increasingly looking like a costly transfer mistake.