Leicester 'exploring all options to find a resolution' to Adrien Silva deal

Leicester are battling to save their move for Adrien Silva

Leicester are battling to complete the transfer of Sporting Lisbon midfielder Adrien Silva amid reports in Portugal that FIFA have rejected the move.

The Foxes agreed a £22million deal for the 28-year-old on transfer deadline day but admitted on Tuesday that they were still working on completing a deal to bring the Portugal international to the King Power Stadium.

A Leicester spokesman said: "We are working with Adrien and Sporting Clube de Portugal to overcome some issues relating to the player's registration and exploring all options to find a resolution."

The Premier League club had been confident they would complete a deal for Silva after being granted a two-hour extension to the 11pm transfer window deadline on August 31.

Silva's move hinged on Danny Drinkwater sealing a switch to Chelsea and the window closed with Silva at Leicester's training ground and Drinkwater at Chelsea's Cobham base.

Drinkwater was announced as a Chelsea player at 1.30am September 1 but because Silva is an international transfer, Leicester have been waiting on clearance to announce the deal.

Sporting said at the time in a statement: "Sporting Club de Portugal... informs the market that we have reached an agreement with Leicester City Football Club for the definitive transfer of the sporting and economic rights of the professional soccer player Adrien Silva. The registration of the same (player) is awaiting confirmation of FIFA."

Silva is a product of Sporting's academy and has had loan spells at Maccabi Haifa and Academica. He has earned 20 caps for Portugal, despite being born in France.