At the start of the last decade, Leicester were sitting in the Championship without very much idea of what the next ten years was about to hold.
Within six years they were Premier League champions. The next season they were competing in the Champions League and come the end of the decade they were again challenging for a place in Europe.
The Foxes failed to conduct any incomings during the very first transfer window of 2010 and they had to wait until July to bring anyone in permanently.
Their first deal of the last ten years was a former Arsenal youth product called Joe Jones. The first time they parted ways with a fee was for Portuguese midfielder Moreno.
He’s now retired while the aforementioned Jones is nowhere to be seen within the world of football.
Therefore, the fact Leicester could land players from two Italian giants this month shows just how far they’ve come.
Who they do end up pursuing remains to be seen but Daniele Rugani and Hakan Calhanoglu are two players who could walk through the doors.
Rugani has been linked by Calciomercato in recent times, a deal which could be as much as €25m (£21.2m). Calhanoglu, meanwhile, would cost a little less at around €20m (£17m). Combine the two together and it could take Leicester’s spending to an impressive £38.2m in January.
But ten years on from when their desires were to get into the Premier League, the goal is to now qualify for Europe again.
The likes of Manchester City are hot on their heels while Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United and others are in the chasing pack too.
Whether the Foxes can maintain their red-hot form is unknown. However, signing players of Rugani and Calhanoglu’s calibre would definitely be a colossal boost to their aims.
The Italian defender has struggled for game time this term, playing just once, but one of the great centre-backs of the modern era in Giorgio Chiellini once described him as someone with 10-15 years ahead of him in Turin.
Max Allegri, meanwhile, has also been full of praise in the past: “Daniele is one of the best centre-backs in Italy and one of the best in Europe,” he said.
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Focusing on Leicester’s other target, Calhanoglu is someone who has performed at a consistent level on a regular basis in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
Since arriving at AC Milan, the Turkish winger and creative danger has registered 13 assists in two seasons in Serie A.
Signing both this month would be a coup for Brendan Rodgers and co, but they’ll be in a significantly better place to finish in the top four if they do.
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