Financial fair play rules appear to have scuppered any potential deal involving Leicester City defender Caglar Soyuncu and a move to Atletico Madrid.
Fabrizio Romano has reported that the defender: “Will not join Atlético Madrid today. No way to anticipate the deal due to Financial Fair Play salary limits.”
He also explained that the defender will likely join the Spanish giants on a free transfer in the summer.
Leicester City Defender Caglar Soyuncu Will Not Move to Atletico Madrid on Deadline Day
Understand Caglar Soyüncü will NOT join Atlético Madrid today. No way to anticipate the deal due to Financial Fair Play salary limits. 🚨⚪️🔴 #Atleti #DeadlineDay
Soyüncü, expected to join Atlético on free transfer in July. pic.twitter.com/pfOFRJDnnn
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 31, 2023
Caglar Soyuncu’s Leicester City Contract
The 26-year-old’s current £45,000-a-week Leicester City contract is set to expire at the end of the season, which is the reason he has received offers from clubs the size of Atletico.
With that in mind, he will now be free to leave the Foxes on a free transfer at the start of next season, and his shocking decline represents just how quickly things can change in football.
Once an exciting young player in the Premier League, Soyuncu is now seemingly surplus to requirements at Leicester, having made just one Premier League appearance this campaign.
Arrival of Harry Souttar
His game time is likely to be reduced even further in the second half of the season, as the club close in on the signing of Stoke City centre-back Harry Souttar.
Read More: Leicester City ‘Pushing’ to Sign ‘Incredible’ Premier League Winger
The Foxes have struggled defensively all season, and Soyuncu is possibly the very player that Souttar will be replacing in the squad.
The Australian is everything Soyuncu was in his early Leicester days: strong, physical and a warrior at the heart of Brendan Rodgers’ defence.
Smart Business From Atletico Madrid
However, even with that being said, if Atletico were able to sign Soyuncu on a free transfer in the summer, it would still represent a good move for the Spanish side.
The financial burden of the deal would be greatly reduced, and they would be signing a player who, although his stock has rapidly declined, still has the ability to be a very good defender.
Read More: Fulham Reach ‘Full Agreement’ for £8.8 Million Midfielder
For now, though, Soyuncu looks set to remain a Leicester City player for the rest of the season, and Rodgers must prevent the defender from being a distraction in the dressing room.
