Brendan Rodgers has insisted that Leicester City failing to sign Jack Harrison from Leeds “doesn’t take away from” what was otherwise a positive window.
The winger’s £20m move to Leicester fell through on deadline even though he underwent his medical with the transfer initially expected to be completed.
Leicester still signed Harry Souttar from Stoke, Tete on loan from Shakhtar and Victor Kristiansen from FC Copenhagen last month. This is the first time they have made a permanent signing in January in five years.
Harrison’s signature would have topped a positive window for the Foxes but Rodgers remained philosophical.
“It was surprising the player (Harrison) was going to be available and then it got as far as it did, having met and spoken with the player,” he said, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa.
“It’s something which didn’t happen but other than that I’m happy with the three players we brought in. It didn’t quite materialise but it doesn’t take away from the fact we had a really good window.
“It’s been a long time since the club signed players in January but there was definitely a need for it. Especially after the last couple of windows.
“It’s not just about now, it’s preparing going forward. We have a number of players out of contract in the summer in key positions, especially at centre-half. It was important from that aspect, strategically.”
Marc Albrighton and Ayoze Perez were allowed to leave on loan to West Brom and Real Betis respectively with Perez expected to have played his last game for the Foxes with his contract expiring in the summer.
Albrighton has an extra year left at the King Power Stadium but Rodgers had promised him more playing time.
“In terms of Marc, he’s got another year on his contract and he’s a real legend of the club. In my time here he has been absolutely brilliant,” he said.
“I spoke to him early in the window and made a promise about him getting games. He’s at the part of his career now where he wanted to play.
“He wanted game time, he has young kids who have not seen him play so much. It’s about getting him game time and we can assess it in the summer.”
READ MORE: Next Premier League manager to leave… David Moyes is clear favourite over Marsch
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Football365…