5 winners from transfer deadline day

By James Dudko | Sep 1, 2016

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 31: New Leicester City signing Islam Slimani poses for pictures in Paris before re-joining his international team mates after passing a medical and joining Leicester City from Sporting Lisbon for a club record fee on August 31, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images) /

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LEICESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 07: Jamie Vardy of Leicester City celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Everton at The King Power Stadium on May 7, 2016 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

2. Leicester

Leicester will never have a better opportunity to make a splash in the transfer market than they did this summer, fresh off the most unlikely title win in Premier League history. The Foxes also needed to make a statement ahead of their Champions League debut.

City managed to do both when they signed Islam Slimani from Sporting for £29.7 million on deadline day. What the Foxes have got for their money is a prolific target man who can both ease the burden on Jamie Vardy and also make the jet-heeled number 9 even more effective.

Slimani is dominant in the air, and his flick-ons and knock-downs will dovetail superbly with Vardy’s pace and clever movement. It will be an old fashioned combination of brawn and speed, but one many teams will struggle to defend.

Having a focal point like Slimani to aim for will also benefit lightning-fast wingers Riyad Mahrez and Ahmed Musa. Expect the Foxes to be just as deadly on the break as they were last season.

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has been searching for this kind of striker all summer. It’s why he offered £25 million for Watford powerhouse Troy Deeney back in June.

Slimani should prove an even more effective choice after scoring 29 times for Sporting last season.

Next: 1. Jack Wilshere and Bournemouth

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