Leicester City want to sign Joao Palhinha but, according to A Bola, they may have to trigger his £53 million release clause to take the midfielder away from Sporting Lisbon.
Although Nampalys Mendy did an admirable job during Wilfred Ndidi’s injury-enforced absence in the opening months of 2020/21, that always felt like a short-term option.
And with reports from Portugal claiming Leicester are looking to bring in another steel-coated scrapper, it seems Mendy is in danger of being replaced by a younger model.
However, signing Palhinha will be easier said than done.
The 25-year-old has a £53 million release clause in his contract and, according to A Bola, Sporting are unlikely to accept any lowball offers for a man who has made one hell of a difference since returning to the Estadio Jose Alvalade from a loan spell at Braga.
That Sporting are top of the table and dreaming of a first league title in two decades is largely thanks to the supreme displays of their belligerent, bone-chewing ball-winner.
Palhinha averages 4.1 tackles per 90 minutes at the base of Ruben Amorim’s midfield – a tally better than Leicester legend N’Golo Kante managed in each of his seasons at Chelsea (WhoScored).
Palhinha, whose transformation has been praised by Sporting hero Nani, also signed a new contract in the summer – although he may be tempted by the opportunity to prove himself in England.
“Obviously I have that dream and goal (to play in the Premier League), because we all recognise the value of the English league,” he told Record a few months ago.
West Bromwich Albion will be watching the situation closely too in the hope Palhinha’s potential arrival allows Hamza Choudhury to join the Baggies (Express & Star).
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