Steve Bruce has hinted he would have happily worked with Ayoze Perez had the Spaniard remained at Newcastle United.
Perez left St James' Park for £30million in the summer after the Foxes activated a clause in his contract.
But the deal was processed before United had agreed a move for Bruce in late July.
When asked about Perez's return to Newcastle, Bruce told the Chronicle: "I never met him...but obviously he had a buyout clause.
"I know he was popular here and a very good player."
Some of the money for Perez's sale was ploughed into a deal to buy £40million striker Joelinton - who scored his first goal for United at Spurs on Sunday.
Bruce feels Joelinton and the likes of Jetro Willems, Allan Saint-Maximin and Emil Krafth will get better by the day.
He reflected: "Some of them have only been here two weeks.
"It is hard enough getting them used to the Premier League and a new environment.
"Most of them are getting apartments or houses. And they're out of hotels now.
"Let's just settle them down. Results are the only thing that change the momentum our way."
