Caleb Okoli Among First Out the Door as Leicester Prepare for Financial Reset After Potential Drop

Championship or League One, Leicester City’s Caleb Okoli is shaping up to be one of the first names expected out of the door this summer. 

With the Foxes eight points from safety and just three games remaining, their survival hopes are hanging by a thread, requiring perfection from here on in while also needing results elsewhere to go their way, with Blackburn Rovers, West Bromwich Albion and Oxford United all sitting above them.

In that context, planning for next season has already begun behind the scenes, and Okoli looks like a natural candidate to move on. 

The 24-year-old centre-back has attracted interest from clubs back in Italy, and Leicester are understood to be open to offers as they look to recoup value from a player who arrived with expectations but has not fully convinced during a turbulent campaign.

Whether the club manage to claw their way out of trouble or suffer another setback in a difficult season, the reality is that Okoli’s future at the King Power Stadium already appears uncertain, with a summer exit increasingly difficult to avoid.

Interested Clubs: Echoes of a "Return" to Italy

Looking to rejuvenate their backline in Serie A, Torino has made Okoli their number one target for Summer 2026. 

Leaked information suggests that AC Milan’s sporting management is closely monitoring the player's development. 

Bologna, on the other hand, aims to add Okoli to their squad via a "loan + option to buy" package to increase depth following their Champions League experience.

Rising teams in Serie A haven't forgotten Okoli’s performance during his previous loan spell at Frosinone. The player's familiarity with Italian football puts Serie A clubs at the forefront of the race.

Contract Details and Wage Revision

Despite signing a long-term five-year deal in July 2024 that runs until June 30, 2029, Okoli’s position at Leicester City is far from secure. With relegation looming, the club are expected to enter a significant cost-cutting phase, with a number of higher-earning players likely to be placed on the market as part of a broader financial reset. 

In that scenario, Okoli is viewed less as a cornerstone and more as a sellable asset who could help balance the books if suitable offers arrive.

Currently earning in the region of £25,000 per week (£1.3 million annually), Okoli would not be short of interest should he depart. His representatives are understood to believe that a return to Italy could even see him land a pay rise, with interest from Serie A clubs potentially pushing his salary into the £40,000-per-week bracket. 

While finances remain part of the equation, the player’s camp are said to be prioritising top-level football opportunities over incremental wage increases, particularly if a move back home becomes a realistic option this summer.