- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Leicester City are chasing new signings ahead of the Premier League kick-off and are hoping to sign Watford talent Yaser Asprilla.
The Foxes are back in the Premier League but have been through changes this summer.
Enzo Maresca guided Leicester back into the top flight but has moved on to become the new Chelsea boss.
Leicester have appointed Steve Cooper as Maresca’s replacement, handing the Welshman a return to Premier League management.
Abdul Fatawu’s loan move has become permanent and Leicester have added three new faces – Bobby DeCordova-Reid, Michael Golding and Caleb Okoli.
Golding arrived as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall headed to Chelsea whilst defender Okoli has come in from Atalanta.
Leicester want more signings and are now pushing to land a Championship star ahead of the new season.
Leicester City want Watford’s Yaser Asprilla
HITC understands that Leicester City have opened talks with Watford over a move for Yaser Asprilla.
20-year-old Asprilla is set to leave Vicarage Road this summer after impressing last season with six goals and seven assists in the Championship.
French side Rennes agreed a deal late last week worth around £25million but after talks in France, Asprilla returned to England without a deal in place.
Spanish side Girona and Portuguese giants Porto have also enquired, but Leicester have now opened talks about a deal.
HITC understands that Brighton and Hove Albion, Brentford and Newcastle United have also been keeping close tabs on Asprilla in the last six months – but as yet they have not made a firm move.
Everton have previously looked at Asprilla too but have signed other players such as Jesper Lindstrom, Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Harrison.
Who is Yaser Asprilla?
The Colombian international featured at Copa America this summer and has been hailed as a ‘fantastic’ talent by Jake Livermore.
Asprilla – no relation to the former Newcastle United striker Faustino Asprilla – predominantly plays down the right flank but has also featured as a number 10.
Asprilla emerged in his native Colombia with Envigado, the same club which produces the likes of James Rodriguez and Jhon Duran.
Watford pounced in 2022 and put him into Championship action after loaning him back to Colombia.
After one goal in his first season at Vicarage Road, Asprilla kicked on last season and finished the campaign with 14 goal contributions in all competitions.
Rennes failing to get a deal done will give Leicester hope of a deal but so much interest from elsewhere means the Foxes will still face a battle to get Asprilla signed up.
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