Leicester City have emerged as a potential destination for Atalanta’s Serie A midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi after Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur backed out of the race, as reported by Calciomercato.
The Foxes have certainly left it to the 11th hour. But better late than never, as they say.
According to FootMercato, Reims’ poodle-haired centre-back Wout Faes could finally bring Leicester’s long wait for a summer signing to an end. And, enter London bun quip here, Atalanta’s former Chelsea youngster Jeremie Boga could join Faes at the King Power Stadium, with talks very much underway.
Boga is not the only Bergamo-based talent on Brendan Rodgers’ deadline day wishlist either.
According to Calciomercato, Ukraine international Ruslan Malinovskyi is another name in the frame. And with a number of other destinations seemingly closing their borders to the 29-year-old, it feels distinctly possible that Malinovskyi could be bringing his canon of a left foot and penchant for long-range wondergoals to Leicester.
Will Ruslan Malinovskyi now end up at Leicester City?
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini recently hailed Malinovskyi’s ‘extraordinary’ impact with La Dea following a trademark left-footed finish against AC Milan. Gasperini still hopes to move on from the former Genk man, however, and bring in a replacement.
Malinovskyi looked to be on his way to Tottenham a couple of weeks ago. Spurs have pulled out, however, after the negotiations became increasingly protracted. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, appear to be looking elsewhere. Malinovskyi also has reservations about joining Alexis Sanchez at Marseille, rejecting an approach from the Ligue 1 giants (Foot Mercato).
Whether Leicester are willing to meet Atalanta’s hefty £25 million price-tag, however, remains to be seen. As Rodgers explains, the Foxes can only spend around a third of their £70 million Wesley Fofana windfall. Faes will take up £15 million of that £23 million warchest; meaning Leicester may have to choose between either Boga or Malinovskyi.
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