Leicester City transfer latest as Evan Ferguson impact laid out amid continuing speculation over striker deal
Even though Leicester City would either have to send impressive loanee Facundo Buonanotte back to Brighton or stump up a club-record fee to sign Evan Ferguson, both of which option appear unlikely, rumours linking the young striker to the Foxes persist.
But the speculation does pose an interesting scenario as to what might happen at City should they indeed bring in the Irish striker in January. How would it affect Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s team?
First of all, there’s the impact on the 11 and the squad to consider. If City are paying upwards of £30m for Ferguson is is unlikely he would be a bench option. But equally, right now, dropping an in-form Jamie Vardy would be a brave call too.
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Ferguson’s hypothetical move would have an effect on the wider squad too. Patson Daka, while well-liked by van Nistelrooy, would be pushed further out, perhaps to the point of leaving the club. For Odsonne Edouard, who is struggling to make the bench as things stand, it would surely leave City looking to move him on.
Ferguson’s arrival would impact City's style of play too. There is plenty to the 20-year-old’s game and he’s far from a one-dimensional striker, but one area in which he does thrive is when attacking crosses. Under van Nistelrooy, City have been crossing into the box marginally less often than they were under Steve Cooper, but perhaps that would swing back the other way.
In any case, it remains a transfer that does not seem likely. Van Nistelrooy will be finishing off his assessment of the squad over the next fortnight, and given how his first few weeks have panned out, it feels like defensive recruits will be the priority come January.
City linked with Watford midfielder
Speculation in the past few days has seen City linked with Watford’s Georgian international attacking midfielder Giorgi Chakvetadze. Everton and Wolves are also said to be interested in the 25-year-old.
Signed from Genk 18 months ago, Chakvetadze has four assists in the Championship this season, but that perhaps doesn’t tell the full story over his creativity. He ranks second in the division for key passes, while he’s far and away been the best ball carrier in the second tier this term. He’s completed 92 carries into the final third this season, the most in the Championship and 30 more than second-placed Borja Sainz.
Splitting his time between attacking midfield and the left wing, City may not be desperate for players of Chakvetadze’s profile, given they have Buonanotte and Bilal El Khannouss. But he’s definitely a player to keep an eye on.
Iheanacho could leave Sevilla after six months
Things aren’t going to plan for Kelechi Iheanacho at Sevilla, so much so that the striker could leave the club in January. He only joined the Spanish side on a free transfer from City in the summer.
The Nigerian’s only goals have come against lower-league opposition in the Copa del Rey, with form proving difficult to find in La Liga. He was substituted off at half-time in the weekend’s 1-0 win over Celta Vigo.
Mucho Deporte report that it was as if Sevilla were playing with 10 men, such was Iheanacho’s lack of impact. They add that if he doesn’t leave in January, it will only be because of the difficulty of offloading players in the winter window.
