Things have turned sour lately between Leonardo Ulloa and Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri. After the Argentine saw his first team action drying up this season and the club blocking his move elsewhere repeatedly, the forward decided to take to twitter to vent his frustration and has refused to play for the club anymore.
In two separate tweets on Monday, the striker posted, “Thanks to all the fans at LCFC. Two wonderful years but I need to feel like a footballer again… With all respect for LCFC FANS. I feel betrayed by Ranieri and let down by the club. I will not play again for them…”
Ulloa handed in a written transfer request earlier in January to force a move away, but the club have turned down several approaches, which included a loan move to Galatasaray and a £1.7m bid from La Liga club Alaves apart from the Sunderland offer.
When asked about Ulloa’s current situation at the club, Leicester boss Ranieri told reporters in a press conference on Monday, “I know he is very, very anxious but we don’t change our mind… We don’t want to sell him… I have just [Islam] Slimani as a target man and I need another target man. I want Leo here and I hope he can be calm and understand my position… The club knows my idea very well and also Leo knows very well my idea.”
With just a few hours to go before the transfer window concludes, a move is more or less imminent. Leicester City won’t be willing to have a player in the squad who is unwilling to take part in the club’s run and it also spreads demotivation among other players. Here are 3 destinations, Ulloa is likely to move to before Tuesday night.
Sunderland
David Moyes doesn’t only lack quality players in his squad at the moment, but he lacks players as a whole. The former Manchester United and Everton manager has continued raiding Goodison Park this month too, bringing in Oviedo and Gibson. However, Moyes has only managed to bring in defenders so far and is in dire need of a forward to partner Jermain Defoe after Victor Anichebe was injured. And a target man like Ulloa will be immensely helpful for the Black Cats.
West Bromwich Albion
The Baggies are also one of the clubs interested in the Argentine. After the much-speculated sale of Saido Berahino to Stoke City, Tony Pulis is left with Salomon Rondon as the only natural centre-forward left at Hawthorns. And the manager is desperate to bring in forwards before the window closes. With a host of wingers and quality midfielders like Nacer Chadli and Jake Livermore sitting back to provide the passes up front, Ulloa could really flourish at West Brom.
Everton
Despite managing to bring in the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin and Ademola Lookman, Ronald Koeman is still in search for a centre-forward to share Romelu Lukaku’s burden up front. Although he has a striker in Enner Valencia, Koeman seems to trust him on the wings, where he has been most effective. And someone like Ulloa will be a tremendous addition to the side, making them complete in every aspect possible.
