Ajax and Atalanta are demanding £40 million for Nicolas Tagliafico and Robin Gosens, meaning Leicester City may be forced to look elsewhere for a new left-back, according to Sky Sports.
The Foxes might have £50 million burning a hole in their back pocket after Ben Chilwell sealed his move to Chelsea this week. But that does not mean they are willing to be victims of daylight robbery in this strangest of transfer markets.
Tagliafico, after all, is reluctant to extend his stay at the Amsterdam Arena with Ajax director Marc Overmars admitting recently that, at the age of 27, the diminutive South American wants to test himself in one of Europe’s major leagues before it is too late (Ajax TV).
£40 million feels a little rich, then, for a man who is determined to leave and will have just 12 months left on his contract next year.
Gosens, in contrast, looks worth every penny of that mammoth price-tag.
The Atalanta flyer is, statistically speaking, the most creative full-back in Europe.
And, after producing 18 goals and assists for the Champions League quarter-finalists, he has been handed a first ever call up for Joachim Low’s Germany squad ahead of the Nations League fixtures next month.
That does not change the fact that, according to Sky, Leicester are unwilling to pay anywhere near £40 million for Chilwell’s replacement.
With that in mind, do not be surprised if the Foxes make Joe Bryan, Fulham’s £15 million-rated play-off final hero, as their number one target (Sun).
Leicester also have the 19-year-old Luke Thomas, a teenager who shone in the final few weeks of last season.
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