20 Jun 2020 15:46:23
Hi eds,

There isn't much action the Leicester page so thought I'd shoot my shot here: any insight into their plans for this summer regarding potential ins and outs?

Cheers.

{Ed002's Note - I expect the need is for: a LB/LWB is Chilwell leaves, a CB to cover for Wes Morgan and Jonny Evans who entering their final year but that may not be a priority, a DM only if Wilfred Ndidi were to leave – as Nampalys Mendy does not need replacing, and an AM if James Maddison were to leave. A RW is needed and S is wanted with a very good Wigan youngster being considered.

Kelechi Chibueze (G) Chelsea do not want to let him go but Leicester will push hard for the kiddie.
Ugurcan Cakir (G) Trabzonspor accept that they will lose Cakir in the summer and will look for €30M or so for him. Mr Mourinho is a fan and Spurs are keen on the player as Hugo Lloris is getting no younger. Bordeaux have been scouting Cakir as the form of Benoit Costil is seen as erratic this season - and although well stocked with goalkeepers, the form of Benjamin Lecomte has resulted in Monaco taking a look - but apparently deciding against a move for him. Leicester are aware that Kasper Schmeichel cannot go on forever and have looked at Cakir. Real Madrid are not planning on adding a goalkeeper this summer but do have him as an option to their preferred target if they change their minds. Previous interest of Reims (who opted for the well thought of Predrag Rajkovic instead) has gone. Lille have looked at the player in the past and could start looking again if Mike Maignan were to leave. Schalke were expected to make an offer for Cakir last summer as Ralf Fahrmann and Alexander Nubel were having a pretty torrid season. In the end they replaced Fahrmann (who will return in the summer) with Markus Schubert (which they may well regret). Again, they could look again as Nubel is heading to Bayern Munich in the summer to replace Manuel Neuer. As a wildcard, Genoa have shown previous interest in Cakir but sold Ionut Radu to Inter in the summer, who then loaned him back. That has not worked out well and in January they took Mattia Perin on loan from Juventus - leaving them still needing a goalkeeper in the summer - but they will need to avoid relegation first. Cakir has always stressed to his agent that he wants guarantees of being first choice if he moves.

Sam McCallum (LB)
Kieran Tierney (LB) BR knows the player well and a jump start at Leicester may be good for his career.
Charlie Taylor (LB) has been watched.
Max Clark (LB)
Kostas Tsimikas (LB) another option for Leicester if Chilwell were to depart. Yuto Nagatomo is due to be replaced in the summer so Galatasaray have looked. Third pick for Napoli as a Faouzi Ghoulam replacement. Fenerbahce are short a LB and have Hasan Ali Kaldirim out of contract in the summer. Locomotiv Moscow have Maciej Rybus heading for the door this summer and have seemingly given up hope on Mikhail Lysov and have been in contact with Olympiacos over a deal for the summer. Sheffield United and Nice have looked and declared an interest.
Ryan Bertrand (LWB) potential Ben Chilwell replacement - but Leicester are looking to hold on to him.
Nicolas Tagliafico (LWB) potential Ben Chilwell replacement - but Leicester are looking to hold on to him.

Robin Koch (CB) There is plenty of interest in RK from the Premier League as he is seen as a solid and reliable player who is easy to integrate as a replacement for aging and departing players. Leicester have a depleted and aging central defence with Morgan and Evans heading toward the end of their careers at the highest level. They have an option on Ryan Bennett but ideally want to add Kock to play alongside Soyuncu. Spurs have issues in central defence with the two senior players needing replacing so adding at least one CB to what is now a pretty poor bunch makes sense. They will see RK as a good solution. Napoli are prepared to let Kalidou Koulibaly leave at the right price and see RK as one potential replacement. Leeds are looking to RK as an option if they cannot persuade Ben White to sign a permanent deal. West Ham interest looks like it will only come to the fore if Issa Diop leaves, and that seems unlikely unless West Ham are relegated - when a whole new paradigm kicks in. Benfica want to keep hold of Ruben Dias but will cash in at the right price – which is when they will look to RK as a replacement. Freiberg want to extend his contract.
Kristoffer Ajer (CB) Milan see Ajar as a cheaper option to their primary target but funds may not stretch as they look to sell players and buy lower priced alternatives. With other options falling by the wayside, Ajar is of interest to Leicester. Top of the list for Atletico Madrid - but only if they lose a CB - which they are trying to avoid. Previous interest of Spurs, Newcastle and Ajax has moved on.
Jannik Vestergaard (CB) I am not aware of any approach for Vestergaard but I can say that Southampton are after recruiting a reasonably priced centre back. They had set their heart on a younger player of which much is expected but have been knocked back in an approach - and options become thinner on the ground in January when clubs do not have replacements lined up. This would add credence to the suggestion that they are considering Vestergaard as Southampton are willing to let him go.
James Tarkowski (CB) Crystal Palace and Leicester both have a declared interest in JT but see the asking prices as well beyond expectation.
Joe Rodon (CB) Bournemouth and Leicester City have both watched Joe Rodon on a regular basis this season but neither has made an approach. I am not aware of any approach from Manchester United.
Wesley Fofana (CB) RB Leipzig have another who seen as a Dayot Upamecano replacement but have Fofana on their list as an alternative. Leicester City have enquired about Fofana with Saint-Étienne. Milan has Fofana somewhere down their lengthy list of CB options but a move their is unlikely.

Kieran Tierney (LB) BR knows the player well and a jump start at Leicester may be good for his career.
Sam McCallum (LB)
Charlie Taylor (LB) has been watched.
Max Clark (LB)
Kostas Tsimikas (LB) another option for Leicester if Chilwell were to depart. Yuto Nagatomo is due to be replaced in the summer so Galatasaray have looked. Third pick for Napoli as a Faouzi Ghoulam replacement. Fenerbahce are short a LB and have Hasan Ali Kaldirim out of contract in the summer. Locomotiv Moscow have Maciej Rybus heading for the door this summer and have seemingly given up hope on Mikhail Lysov and have been in contact with Olympiacos over a deal for the summer. Sheffield United and Nice have looked and declared an interest.
William Carvalho (DM) I very much doubt it.
Kalvin Phillips (CM) there is a great deal of interest in him from PL sides but chances would be thin at Leicester.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (CM) is wanted by Spurs and Leicester and has been proposed to Everton as a well-priced midfield solution. Spurs would offer Kyle Walker-Peters as part of the deal but Southampton are in urgent need of cash. Fitting him in might be an issue.
Ozan Tufan (CM) Southampton, Everton, Augsburg, Crystal Palace, Freiberg, Cologne and Leicester have apparently enquired after his availability. Fitting him in might be an issue.
Roberto Alvarado (AM) Crystal Palace and Leicester City know that Ajax are already in talks with his club but interest from Spain could prove more attractive for the Mexican - although limitations on imported players are likely keeping the Spanish clubs at bay. The door is also open for Portuguese interest.

Bertrand Traore (RW/F) Newcastle, Bournemouth, Real Betis, West Ham and Leicester have enquired after his availability - Lyon want €40M (but will accept half for a player who wants out) and want to hold on to him - and there is the complexity of Chelsea having an option of a buy back clause but that can be fixed. Would be a hard sell to the player who wants to try his luck in Italy but there may not be a cash buyer available – which opens up a return to England.
Hakan Calhanoglu (LW) Agent says he wants a return to Germany but the new Milan coach wants him kept. Scratch him.
Ismail Jakobs (LW) vey left sided where more flexibility is needed.
Said Benrahma (LW) seems unlikely.
Adam Lallana (AM/LM) Spurs interest likely left with MP but Leicester are keen.
Philippe Coutinho (AM/LW) after missing out on Bruno Fernandes and Hakim Ziyech Spurs have enquired after Coutinho and been told that a loan fee would €30M for a season with an option to buy at €50M at the end of the season with any loaning club paying half his wages. I would expect any interested side to look for a significant reduction on that. The player is being offered around PL sides. Barcelona will have to keep him if no takers are found although with money owed to Liverpool still there may be room for them to negotiate. Leicester might offer a solution to get him off the books - but there would be a need for some negotiation. I am not aware of Everton showing an interest nor how they would be able to fund such a move unless there was some creativity in a deal.
Jonathan David (AM/S/W) Gent youngster who has attracted plenty of scouts to watch him this season including those representing Wolves, Bayern Munich, Aston Villa, Southampton, Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Lyon, RBS, Lille, Everton, RBL, Arsenal, Leicester and Lazio. Lyon are looking for a replacement for Moussa Dembele and RBL who are looking for a replacement for Timo Werner have both spoken with Genk who are open to the Canadian leaving at the right price. At the start of the season Napoli and Brighton attended matches to watch Roman Yaremchuk but were apparently were also impressed by the performance and versatility of David. The player has said he would be open to a move to Germany or England but Germany is the preferred destination and a decent offer from Bayern Munich would be welcomed, but an offer from Bayer Leverkusen if Havertz leaves is more likely. Both MIlan sides, Dortmund and Bayern Munich will push and Real Betis will push and offer guarantees that others won't. Ajax may just put an attractive cash offer on the table. I think a move to Leicester unlikely.

Hee-Chan Hwang (S) Wolves have shown an interest but could be priced out of a move with RBS inviting offers over €40M. I am not aware of any approach by Everton but an enquiry has been made by Leicester. The player might be seen as a replacement for Kean - so we will wait to see if an approach is made.
Alassane Plea (F)
Sardar Azmoun (S) was subject to a very public dispute between Rubin Kazan and Rostov which ended in favour of Rostov in 2016. Stoke had agreed a transfer with Rubin Kazan prior to the CAS proceedings but were aware that it would be difficult to make a case for a work permit. Everton had also looked at the player in the past but, like Stoke, knew the Work Permit situation would be a problem. Whilst playing for RK in 2014 it was suggested that Brendan Rodgers was keen on the player, but I cannot confirm that. Rubin Kazan received a little over €2M in compensation at the ruling of CAS and have no recourse for appeal - eventually signing him on a "free transfer". Marseille watched the player at the start of last season, but he opted for a move to Zenit - and they remain concerned that his best form comes in International sides who are lowly ranked. Antalyaspor, Villareal, Wolves, Liverpool, Leverkusen and Konyaspor all attended matches to watch Azmoun during his last season with Rostov (2018) but the player made clear he did not want to move at that time. Atletico, who won't have had the WP issues dropped some interest they had in the player. There has also been interest from Celtic and Lazio. He had a better time with Zenit last year and Napoli, when CA was coach, took note. Everton could see Azmoun as a viable Kean replacement but need to make sure a WP could be obtained. I think a move to England is unlikely, but possible. Looked at again by Leicester.
Odsonne Edouard (S) a cheaper option than most. Don’t see it.
Vedat Muriqi (S) expect a battle over him in the summer
Joe Gelhardt (F) Wigan kiddie who has attracted a lot of attention from Premier League sides who had trials with Liverpool and Everton when very young. Spurs and Chelsea have both spoken with Wigan about the player, but both came away thinking he should stay where he is for a year or two to develop - and Chelsea have a much-preferred option. Manchester United have sent an ex-player to look at him and I understand Liverpool, West Brom and Everton have also been scouting him. Leicester have approached Wigan. Another one to perhaps keen an eye on.}


1.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 18:29:18
Ed, I honestly don't think anyone could thank you enough or question your knowledge and work. Absolutely insane. Thank you so much.

{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}