Leicester City first transfer departure takes next step after £25m confirmation

Hayden Hackney's confirmed transfer to Everton for around 25 million pounds has opened the door for Middlesbrough to pursue Leicester City's Oliver Skipp. The 24-year-old completed his move to the Premier League club on Thursday, signing a five-year contract after Boro received 17 million pounds upfront from the Merseyside club.

The sale of Hackney has provided Middlesbrough with the financial flexibility to target reinforcements. The Championship side view Skipp not as a direct replacement for Hackney but as an addition to strengthen their midfield options under manager Kim Hellberg.

Leicester must carefully handle Skipp's potential departure during the transfer window. The Foxes need to raise funds following back-to-back relegations while ensuring they do not demand such a hefty fee that potential suitors are deterred. It remains uncertain how much Middlesbrough would value Skipp and what Leicester would be willing to accept.

The transfer activity extends beyond Skipp. Wout Faes is expected to depart after Turkish club Fenerbahce initiated talks to sign the defender for a modest fee. Reports suggest Faes is one of two centre-backs that Fenerbahce are targeting.

Caleb Okoli has also attracted attention from AS Monza, the newly promoted Serie A side. The 24-year-old, who has suffered two relegations during his two years at Leicester, struggled to adapt to English football. Monza's new manager Ivan Juric, formerly of Southampton, is keen to make Okoli his first signing since taking charge.

Additionally, Leicester's wonderkid Jeremy Monga appears set to join Manchester City rather than Arsenal after the Premier League side hijacked the move. City are working on a deal for Monga in the region of 10 million pounds, willing to meet Leicester's valuation after Arsenal withdrew following two rejected bids.