Leicester City should look to swoop for Ajax defender Joel Veltman but they should act quickly if they are to beat Tottenham Hotspur to his signature.
Leicester City are looking to bolster their defensive options and the signing of Ajax defender Joel Veltman, who is a long-term target of Tottenham Hotspur, would be an exciting addition to their squad.
According to the Evening Standard, Tottenham are lining up an £8 million bid for the 25-year-old right-back. Veltman is entering the final year of his contract at Ajax and the Amsterdam club will likely be looking to sell the Dutch international, avoiding the risk of losing him for nothing next summer.
The future of current Spurs first choice right-back Kyle Walker is in doubt, and it is unlikely that the club will move for Veltman until the England international’s situation is cleared up.
Now would be the perfect time for the Foxes to make their play. Veltman started his career as a centre-back but has been playing at right-back in recent years and he has impressed.
Veltman is an attractive proposition for a number of reasons, he is still relatively young and has plenty of first-team experience, however his versatility at the back is something that can justify the reported £8 million price tag in itself.
Leicester have already strengthened their defensive options with the signing of Harry Maguire but Foxes boss Craig Shakespeare is looking for another centre-half.
The Foxes have already had a £10 million bid rejected for West Brom defender Jonny Evans (Daily Mail). It remains unclear whether Leicester will make another bid for the 29-year-old or not.
Joel Veltman played for Ajax in this year’s Europa League final against Manchester United
Whilst Evans has Premier League experience in abundance, Leicester are in danger of paying over the odds for the former Manchester United man.
Despite an inevitable period of settling in required if he was to move to England, the potential signing of Veltman will provide better value for money.
As well as being an accomplished centre-back, he would be an upgrade on current foxes right-back Danny Simpson. Whether he is deployed at centre-half or full-back, the potential signing of Veltman would indicate that the Foxes are ready to start battling at the top end of the Premier League once again.
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