Leicester City Must Dodge Criticism Over Transfer Decisions as Deal Reveals Club’s Current Reality

When Facundo Buonanotte potentially steps out for his debut on Monday night, he will become the third Argentinian player to represent Leicester City and the second to have arrived at the King Power Stadium via Brighton.

A decade ago this week, Leonardo Ulloa, who was then the club’s record signing after joining for £8 million from Brighton, made his debut for City in their first game back in the Premier League.

He scored in a 2-2 draw against Everton, marking the start of what would be a successful season. Ulloa netted 11 goals that campaign, playing a crucial role in the team’s survival.

If Buonanotte can come close to replicating Ulloa’s impact in his first season at Leicester, the decision to bring him in will be seen as a significant success.

Currently, there’s little optimism among supporters about Buonanotte making a similar impact. His performances at Brighton have been modest, though he is still very young.

Part of the lack of excitement surrounding his arrival may stem from the reality it highlights. Not long ago, Leicester would have been loaning players to clubs like Brighton to gain experience and develop.

Now, roles have reversed; Leicester has faced a severe relegation while Brighton has thrived, partly due to their excellent transfer strategy.

Buonanotte’s arrival underscores how quickly and significantly Leicester’s fortunes have changed.

Manager Steve Cooper has suggested that the 19-year-old was identified by the recruitment team rather than himself.

For the staff behind the scenes, Buonanotte’s success is crucial, as a failure could lead to criticism.

Typically, when a signing doesn’t work out, the focus is on the financial aspect and the potential waste of money.

However, with Buonanotte, the concern will be more about the missed opportunity to develop Leicester’s own players.

Leicester already has a 19-year-old attacking midfielder, Will Alves, who is seen as a future star.

Instead of giving Alves a chance to prove himself and adjust to senior football, Leicester is turning to a Brighton player, effectively developing him for the Seagulls.

Buonanotte has experience from 40 Premier League games and senior football in Argentina, whereas Alves has yet to make his league debut.

Thus, Buonanotte is expected to have a more immediate impact than Leicester’s homegrown talent.

If Buonanotte returns to Brighton at the end of the season as a more experienced player, Alves might still be waiting for his chance, which could be seen as a missed opportunity for Leicester.

However, if Leicester remains in the Premier League and Buonanotte plays a significant role in their success, there will be no questions raised. Conversely, if Leicester faces relegation, the situation will become problematic.

The good news is that Buonanotte is ready to join the team immediately. Despite not featuring in pre-season, Cooper has confirmed that Buonanotte will be involved in the match against Tottenham on Monday.

“He’s definitely going to be involved, for sure,” said the manager. “He’s been with us, and it’s been beneficial to have had a long week leading up to the Monday night game. We hope this will help him settle in.

“We’ve been careful not to overwhelm him, given he’s a young player, a foreign player, and new to the team and area. We want to allow him time to adjust.

“We know we’ve signed a good player and want him to contribute as much as possible. We’re striving to strike the right balance, providing him with what he needs without overwhelming him or distracting him from what he excels at.

“We want players to play freely and make their own decisions. Sometimes, this is achieved by not over-instructing them rather than providing excessive guidance.”