Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare has said the club's recruitment department should take credit for the signing of Wilfred Ndidi, after the club saw off reported interest from Manchester United, Arsenal, Southampton and Hamburg to land the midfielder.
Those clubs were hoping to complete a deal to sign Ndidi, 20, at the end of the season but he joined Leicester from Genk in the January transfer window for a reported £17 million fee instead.
He has started each of the last five games, all of which have been wins which have eased the club's relegation fears and booked a place in the Champions League quarterfinals, and Shakespeare has been delighted with his impact.
"Our recruitment department take a real pat on the back for [his signing]," Shakespeare said following the 2-0 win against Stoke which took Leicester to 33 points. "We did a lot of homework on him and I think we were one of the first clubs, if not the first, to show an interest in him.
"I think he, and his family and agent, remembered that so we were in the driving seat. When other clubs came in for him he remembered the way we went about it first. He had other options.
"From what you're seeing so far, we've got a good player on our hands."