Leicester plan to accelerate their move to sign Nicolas Gonzalez from Fiorentina during the early part of next week.
The Argentine attacker is a priority target for the Foxes, who are prepared to make his one of the highest-paid players at the club if they can agree a fee with the Serie A side.
Fiorentina are looking for about £30million for the 24-year-old, who is believed to earn a salary of about £83,000 a week – more than any other player has ever been paid in Florence.
While they would consider a player-exchange, with Leicester midfielder Dennis Praet admired, Fiorentina would prefer a straight cash deal.
Publicly the club insist Gonzalez is not for sale in this window but the situation is believed to be a little more complex.
Like most Serie A clubs, Fiorentina are far from wealthy and would find it difficult to resist a big offer, especially as they are keen to recruit at least one central midfielder in this window.
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has been targeting a right-winger for more than a year, and was hugely disappointed that the club were unable to turn Ademola Lookman’s loan deal into a permanent move.
They have also looked at Burkina Faso wide man Dango Ouattara, who plays for French club Lorient.
After improving before the World Cup break, the Foxes have lost all three of their league fixtures since the resumption and are now only two points above the relegation zone, ahead of Saturday’s trip to local rivals Nottingham Forest.
