Leicester City transfer news: Nordic giant targeted as West Ham join hunt for two strikers
Two Danish defenders may not be enough for Leicester City, who are said to have made an enquiry for another Nordic giant.
A centre-back is on City’s list of priorities for the January transfer window and they have now been linked to Udinese’s Thomas Kristensen. Messaggero Veneto report that City have asked the Serie A club about the availability of the 22-year-old, who stands at 6ft 6in.
While injuries have limited Kristensen to eight appearances this term, he is a starter when fit, and played 90 minutes in Udinese’s 0-0 draw with Hellas Verona at the weekend. Still, it’s reported that Udinese would be willing to sell if their €16.5m (£13.7m) price-tag was met.
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If he did arrive at City, Kristensen would be the third Danish defender at the club, alongside Jannik Vestergaard and Victor Kristiansen, although he’s not yet in the senior Denmark squad with them. Kristensen is still eligible for the Under-21s and has been playing in qualifiers for Denmark ahead of this summer’s tournaments.
As expected with his height, Kristensen is good in the air and has the best headed duel success rate in Serie A this season. His long-range passing looks pretty good too.
City have been linked to a host of centre-backs this month already, but those on their radar look to be heading elsewhere. Valentin Gomez, a title-winner with Velez Sarsfield in Argentina, had said he wanted to continue his career in Europe, but now looks to be heading to Brazilian side Cruzeiro, according to widespread reports in South America.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are the latest in a long line of teams to be linked with Lens’ Abdukodir Khusanov. The Uzbek international had previously been on the radar of Spurs and Newcastle, as well as Leicester.
West Ham target City-linked forwards
City have long been linked to Brighton’s Evan Ferguson this month, despite Facundo Buonanotte’s loan preventing them from bringing in the Irishman on a temporary deal. Plus, they’re said to be interested in Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath too.
Now, West Ham have been linked with both players. The Telegraph report that the Hammers have made a new striker a priority for this month with Michail Antonio and top scorer Jarrod Bowen out with injury.
Casadei heading to Italy
Last week, City were linked with a move for their former loan midfielder Cesare Casadei, even though it made no sense given their priorities this window. But it seems the young Italian will now get a move out of Chelsea.
Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Casadei is heading to Torino in a permanent deal. The midfielder has said yes, so now it’s just a matter of the clubs coming to a conclusion on the details around the price.
