4) Andrej Kramaric – HNK Rijeka to Leicester City
Rooted at the foot of the table, Leicester City have made a desperate club record signing of £9 million to bring in Croatian international Andrej Kramaric with the foxes in desperate need of goals as they have scored the same number of goals as Sunderland.
Having scored 28 goals in just 31 appearances of Rijeka in Croatia’s first division, the long term Chelsea target will add firepower to Leicester’s attack that has the likes of David Nugent, Jamie Vardy and the previous club record signing Leonardo Ulloa.
He signs on a three-and-a-half year deal and the move is beneficial for both the parties. If the 23-year-old adapts to the Premier League well, the Foxes stand a strong chance of surviving with just three points separating them from Burnley in the 17th place. He can then be sold for a profit if a bigger club comes, having ensured survival for his current side.
Manager Nigel Pearson was pleased that the Croat signed for them despite their struggles, “The fact we have made our intentions pretty clear and worked hard to secure his signature is important.”
“It speaks volumes of the lad that he’s prepared to come to us in the situation it is at the moment.
“It’s really important for us to strengthen. Providing everything goes the way we’d like it to I think we have a pretty strong case, with his international status and form, internationally and at club level.”
“He has represented Croatia at every level. Hopefully the very fact we have been prepared to go about securing the deal the way we have will be favourable to us.”