According to The Guardian, Leicester City have offered a deal to sign Barcelona’s Francisco Trincao on loan this summer.
The report claims that the Foxes have proposed a two-year loan with a clause inserted in the contract which would obligate them to sign the young Portuguese sensation for £45 million in the summer of 2022.
That has come out of nowhere. Leicester have had a sensational season and, although they ended the campaign in terrible fashion, they overachieved massively.
Trincao would be a fantastic signing for Leicester
The Foxes will play in the Europa League next season and Brendan Rodgers will need to strengthen his squad. Everyone knew that Leicester would bring in a few players this summer, but their reported pursuit of Trincao really is a surprise.
The 20-year-old left-footed right-winger enjoyed an incredible season in Portugal with Braga. Trincao scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions, which is a sensational return for a player of his age.
The Portuguese wonder-kid was signed by Barcelona back in January for £28 million. Trincao was due to join the Catalans on 1 July but the delay in completing the season has pushed his joining date back.
Barcelona signed him on a deal until the summer of 2025 with a staggering release clause of £451.5 million. (Guardian) However, the current financial situation could tempt them to cash in and Leicester’s proposal is a very smart one.
A two-year loan deal with an obligation to buy gives the Foxes enough time to raise £45 million. Trincao could well be worth a lot more than that by 2022, considering Leicester’s excellent recent record of developing young players.
It will be interesting to see if Barcelona accept Leicester’s offer. Trincao is yet to play a single minute for the Catalans and, if they give the green light to the Foxes’ proposal, he will leave the former Spanish champions without featuring for them in any competition.
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