Leicester City: Manchester United to swoop foxes’ target
By Jake Cursley
After Leicester City have been linked to the Brazilian Gabriel Barbosa, Manchester United look set to swoop in and sign the youngster.
The 19 year old Brazilian is currently playing at the Olympics for the home nation and has so far scored 5 goals in 10 games in 2016 for Brazilian Serie A side Santos.
Related Story: Leicester City: €15m bid for Roma midfielder considered
Leicester City looked set to smash their current transfer record fee of £16.5, set this summer when the foxes signed Ahmed Musa by offering Santos £23m for the services of Gabriel.
Manchester United on the other hand have other plans and look to blow Leicester City out of the water by offering Santos a staggering £30m for a summer move for the 19 year old.
Newspaper The Sun had quoted Leicester City as being
"“convinced they had beaten off Italian giants Inter Milan and Juventus, as well as Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid, after the teenage striker told them he had his heart set on playing in the Premier League”"
When asked about Leicester City’s interest in Gabriel, boss Claudio Ranieri said
"“It is speculation. For two months this Barbosa is wanted by all the world and in those two months no one buys Barbosa. I don’t understand, why?”"
Whilst quotes from the charismatic Italian should be taken with a pinch of salt, after he constantly stated last season that the goal was 40 points or that ET will land on Earth before Leicester City retain the title, could his statement indicate that Leicester City are backing off from the transfer?
Gabriel isn’t the only youngster being linked with a move involving Leicester City.
Young centre-back Liam Moore is looking to leave the foxes on a permanent basis after having back to back loan spells away from the East Midlands, however talks with Reading FC has stalled over the past few weeks.
Moore was offered a new contract by the foxes, having only a year left on his current deal but turned the offer down and is looking for a transfer away from the club before the contract runs out, in which case he’s most likely to leave on a free transfer.
Reading boss and Manchester United legend Jaap Stam is frustrated at the time it’s taking to sign the England U21 international and speaking to getreading.co.uk he said
"“Sometimes you wonder why it takes so long. Sometimes the club needs to work with the player,”"
"“”If he’s not going to be playing then he’s not going to be improving. So sometimes the club can be a bit helpful as well.”"
Next: Leicester City: Jeff Schlupp continues to angle for West Brom transfer
Moore has fallen significantlydown the pecking order at Leicester City and has lost his place in the dressing room according to his Twitter, should he want to revive his career in the lower leagues, who better to learn from than Jaap Stam himself?