Steve Cooper has already lost out on transfer target Matias Soule, with the Argentinian winger expressing his interest to join Serie A club Roma.
However, his top priority continues to be his pursuit for a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall replacement.
Cooper attempted to lure Dewsbury-Hall into staying for the 2024/25 Premier League campaign after he was appointed as manager, however the midfielder was adamant that he wanted to join back up with former Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca at Chelsea.
Leicester City had highlighted Callum O’Hare as a cheap option to replace Dewsbury-Hall following his release from Coventry City, however the midfielder is set to sign for Sheffield United, per Alan Nixon.
Sheffield United have also beaten fellow Championship club Leeds United to the signature of the 26-year-old, with the Blades offering the Englishman a ‘sizeable wage and signing on fee’.
The midfielder made a significant impact for the Sky Blues, scoring six goals from the centre of the park in 31 league matches in the 2023/24 season.
Cooper will now have to look elsewhere for a Dewsbury-Hall replacement ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
Leicester City are still keeping tabs on the situation involving Danish man O’Riley, however the bloated asking price will be putting Cooper off from putting all of his eggs in one basket.
However, with news that Soule is now likely to choose a move to Roma over the Foxes, sufficient transfer budget may have opened up for Cooper to go all in for the Celtic star.
Although it was in the Scottish Premiership, he is a player of a similar fashion to Dewsbury-Hall, with a brilliant 31 goal contributions from 37 matches to show for in the 2023/24 league season.
Options are out there for replacements, but in terms of a cheaper alternative, Cooper will do incredibly well to find a better cheap alternative than O’Hare, who showed promising signs in the last three Championship seasons to be up to scratch for the Premier League.