Report: ‘Quality’ £45k-a-week man close to leaving Leicester City for 25% of fee paid

Follow us on Google Discover

Leicester City are close to finalising an agreement to sell Rachid Ghezzal to Besiktas just three years after joining the East Midlands outfit, according to Foot Mercato.

The Foxes acquired Ghezzal from Monaco under Claude Puel in 2018 for an initial £10m, rising to £12.5m with add-ons. The Algerian featured prominently under the current Saint-Etienne coach, but lost his way under Brendan Rodgers.

After offering three goals in 21 appearances with Puel at the helm, Ghezzal only made two further outings under Rodgers. Leicester then loaned the 29-year-old to Fiorentina before moving to Besiktas in 2020 on an initial season-long deal.

Besiktas now want to purchase Ghezzal after the Leicester-owned winger enjoyed a strong Super Lig campaign at Vodafone Park. The 19-cap international struck home eight goals and provided 17 assists in 31 games to help win the title.

Leicester are close to finalising terms with Besiktas for Ghezzal to now move permanently for €3m (£2.5m). The attacker will sign a four-year contract with the Black Eagles, to end his Foxes career with a year remaining on his £45,000-per-week terms.

Besiktas hope to build on retaining Ghezzal by signing free-agent striker Diego Costa and Cagliari defender Diego Godin. The Turkish giants may have funds for the pair, as Leicester wanted to recoup £5m for Ghezzal, per the Express.

Instead, the forward departs the King Power Stadium for good at just a quarter of the fee paid to Monaco.

Ghezzal showed at Besiktas what Puel expected at Leicester

Ghezzal may have disappeared from contention under Rodgers, but showed at Besiktas last season what Puel had expected at Leicester. His mammoth return of goal involvements left the Black Eagles with no choice, really, but to pursue a permanent deal.

“He has the quality to play between the lines,” Puel said, via Leicestershire Live. “He can move, he can shoot, he can cross, he can give assists and good service. I said when he came from Monaco, it was a very interesting signing for us. He offers something different.”