Leicester City’s ideal transfer deadline day: Securing a key signing and loaning out four players.

Leicester City have a promising new attacking midfielder, but they need a complementary striker to maximize his impact.

Bilal El Khannouss, City’s new £20 million signing, is expected to go straight into the starting eleven.

Manager Steve Cooper has been looking for creativity in the final third, and El Khannouss, who ranked first in Belgium last season for shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, fits the bill perfectly.

His vision and passing ability will benefit players like Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka, who excel at running in behind defenses.

However, for El Khannouss to truly shine, Leicester needs a different kind of striker, someone who offers a different dimension to their attack.

Since January, when Kelechi Iheanacho fell out of favor under Enzo Maresca, Leicester’s strikers have mainly been quick players who rely on making runs past the last defender.

Maresca’s tactics, however, require forwards who can drop deep, link up play, and contribute to build-up, which isn’t a natural strength for either Vardy or Daka.

As Leicester is likely to face more pressure this season, a striker who can hold up the ball and bring others into play could be invaluable.

This would allow the team to relieve pressure and transition more effectively, potentially reducing the amount of time they spend defending.

Additionally, Leicester seems to need another reliable goal source.

There is trust in Vardy, who has looked sharp recently, but concerns linger over relying on a 37-year-old who scored just three goals in the Premier League last season.

Meanwhile, Daka has yet to prove himself as a consistent goal-scorer in the Premier League and hasn’t found the net since February.

Jordan Ayew, another option, has averaged only three goals per season over the past four years.

One player who could meet Leicester’s needs is Fotis Ioannidis, the Panathinaikos striker for whom Leicester recently bid over £20 million.

After scoring 23 goals in all competitions last season, Ioannidis has garnered attention from clubs across Europe.

His playing style seems ideal for Leicester, offering both goal-scoring prowess and the ability to hold up play.

However, securing Ioannidis before the transfer window closes seems unlikely.

Leicester would need to make a significantly higher bid, and Panathinaikos might be reluctant to sell after securing a spot in the Europa Conference League group stage.

Still, if Leicester could somehow find the funds to complete the transfer, it would be a tremendous boost for the club.

Not only would Ioannidis provide tactical benefits and add more goals, but his arrival would also lift the spirits of the fans.

There has been some unease among supporters regarding Leicester’s transfer business this summer, and confidence in avoiding relegation is not high.

The signing of El Khannouss has already helped improve the mood somewhat.

Bringing in a striker like Ioannidis would likely leave the fanbase much more optimistic, significantly influencing how the transfer window is ultimately viewed.