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Exclusive: Leicester City work on signing Portsmouth star

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Credit: Leicester City FC/Portsmouth FC

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Exclusive: Leicester City work on signing Portsmouth star


Thu 28 August 2025 17:54, UK



Leicester City are working on signing Portsmouth winger Josh Murphy before the end of the summer transfer window, sources have told Football Insider.



The Foxes have turned their attention to a late-window deal for the Pompey star following a difficult summer in which Asmir Begovic has been their only signing.

Sources have told Football Insider that Murphy has been identified as the Foxes’ ‘number one target’ for the rest of the summer window, as Marti Cifuentes seeks a Championship-proven forward to boost his ranks.

Contact has been made over a deal as Leicester try to reach an agreement before Monday’s cut-off.

Murphy has a contract keeping him at Portman Road until the summer of 2027, meaning Pompey could command a sizeable fee for his signature.



Credit: Imago

Mads Hermansen, Kasey McAteer, James Justin, Wilfred Ndidi and Conor Coady have all been sold following their relegation from the Premier League — while Jamie Vardy left at the end of his contract.

As reported by Football Insider, Leicester winger Bilal El Khannouss is a major target for Crystal Palace, while fellow wideman Abdul Fatawu has also attracted interest.

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With so many players leaving and others the subject of bids from the Premier League, Leicester fans are keen for their club to make some signings before the end of the window.

Portsmouth statsJosh MurphyAppearances44Goals7Assists15Josh Murphy’s Portsmouth career stats (all comps)

Murphy — brother of Newcastle star Jacob — joined Portsmouth from Oxford United and was key in helping the South Coast side stay in the Championship following promotion from League One.

The former England youth international — now 30 years old — registered seven goals and 14 assists in 42 Championship outings, with his 21 direct goal involvements leaving him seven clear of his nearest rival, Colby Bishop (FotMob).

Portsmouth are looking to complete a signing of their own before the summer market closes, with Chesterfield’s Armando Dobra a major target.

Credit: Getty, Imago

While it’s been a quiet summer so far, Leicester look set for a hectic end to the window.

Major signings are required if Cifuentes is to help his new side compete for an immediate return to the Premier League — especially after so many key outgoings.

Alongside targeting winger Murphy, Leicester are understood to be pursuing Manchester City right-back Issa Kabore.

The Burkina Faso international joined Man City from Belgian side KV Mechelen in the summer of 2020, but is yet to make a senior appearance under Pep Guardiola — instead taking in loan spells with Troyes, Marseille, Luton Town, Benfica and, most recently, Werder Bremen.

At 24 years old, it’s time for Kabore to find a permanent home where he can progress his career and become a regular starter.

And it’s thought that Leicester and Ipswich Town are battling it out for Kabore’s signature.

Like Murphy, Kabore has two years left on his current contract.

Football Insider sources have also identified Leicester among a host of clubs chasing Lorient midfielder Arthur Avom this summer.