Leicester City keen on Millwall striker Mihailo Ivanovic as Marti Cifuentes plots ambitious transfer raid | OneFootball

The Serbian striker is on the transfer radar of the Foxes with just a week and a half left of the window

Leicester City have made an approach to Championship rivals Millwall for their star striker Mihailo Ivanovic.

The Foxes are noticeably short in the attacking department with just a week and a half left of the transfer window, and they haven't got off to the best of starts in the 2025-26 Championship season, struggling over the line with a 2-1 win over cash-strapped Sheffield Wednesday on the opening weekend of the campaign, before being defeated 2-1 by Preston North End at Deepdale last weekend.

The East Midlands club have cashed in on the likes of Mads Hermansen and Wilfred Ndidi this summer to West Ham and Besiktas respectively, but City are yet to make a new signing other than experienced backup goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

Transfer dominos may be set to fall though in the coming days, with attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss wanted by Crystal Palace, and that could give head coach Marti Cifuentes the funds to bolster his side - namely in the attacking third.

Leicester City interested in star Millwall striker Mihailo Ivanovic - transfer enquiry has been launched

Journalist Pete O'Rourke has claimed that Leicester have now submitted a transfer enquiry to Millwall over their Serbian goal-getter Mihailo Ivanovic, who scored 12 Championship goals in his debut season in England in 2024-25.

The Lions spent £2.8 million to bring Ivanovic in from Serbian side Vojvodina, which was a club-record deal at the time, and after an impressive first season on British shores, the one-cap Serbia international is now wanted elsewhere, and it remains to be seen as to whether Leicester will get anywhere with their approach to the South Bermondsey outfit.

Alex Neil's side have already broken their transfer record once more to sign another striker in the form of Middlesbrough's Josh Coburn, who was on loan at The Den last season, but the Scottish coach has been playing him alongside Ivanovic in the same system.

There is now a chance though that the partnership could be broken up before the September 1 deadline as Leicester make their move to try and sign the young striker, although the fee could be an issue, given reports earlier this summer at a time when Premier League side Wolves were interested suggested that Millwall were looking for around £15 million for Ivanovic's services.

Leicester's transfer window activity all looks like it's coming down to the final week of the transfer window when it begins on Monday, which isn't ideal whatsoever.

Fees will likely be driven up as clubs get more desperate to do deals, but in the case of Ivanovic, Millwall are very well-protected by his long-term contract that was signed last summer.

Of course, whilst the Lions will not have the Serb up for sale, every player has their price, but Ivanovic's price will be a high one given his impact last season, and it will probably be higher than Leicester will be willing to pay - you can never say never though.

What is known though is that with just Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka as out-and-out striker options, a new number nine is critical for Leicester if they're going to be in the promotion mix this coming season - time will tell as to whether or not that will be Ivanovic.