Aston Villa keen on Leicester City duo
Reports have suggested that Championship side Aston Villa are trying to sign both Leonardo Ulloa and Daniel Amartey on loan from Leicester City for the rest of the season.
Ulloa has seen his gametime cut since Claudio Ranieri left the club and has fallen down the pecking order behind Jamie Vardy, Islam Slimani and Kelechi Iheanacho.
The Argentine striker has been linked with a move away for over a year, but under Claude Puel’s regime it looks like he could be leaving in search of first team opportunities.
John Percy of the Telegraph claimed that Aston Villa are also interested in a move for Ghanaian international midfielder Amartey. Percy said:
"“Villa are restricted by Financial Fair Play rules in January but have the budget to sign two players on loan for the remainder of the season, and the Leicester pair are top targets.”"
While the Villains are most likely interested in both Ulloa and Amartey, it is unlikely that Leicester City will let both leave the club on a temporary basis.
The Telegraph’s report did claim that Leicester would prefer a deal for Ulloa to become permanent in the summer, but Amartey has featured enough for the Foxes that a move elsewhere without a significant financial return makes little sense.
Amartey has deputised at right-back recently as Danny Simpson has been out with injury. Leicester City have been linked with right-back signings in Augsburg’s Daniel Opare.
The Ghanaian joined the club from FC Copenhagen for £5 million in January 2016 but has not been able to nail down a spot in the starting lineup.
With midfield reinforcements coming in the shape of Wilfried Ndidi, Vicente Iborra and Adrien Silva since Amartey joined the club, it is unlikely that he will force his way into Puel’s first eleven soon; however, he is still a necessary player at the club with no other fit right-back in the squad.
While Ulloa has been linked with Aston Villa, Swansea City, Sheffield United and a number of clubs in Spain previously, his future could depend on others.
Ulloa has played just 19 minutes of Premier League football this season, but as Slimani, Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa have all been linked with moves away from the King Power Stadium, he may be required to stick around.
Next: Leicester City ready to let Kelechi Iheanacho leave
Besiktas have reportedly lined up Slimani and Iheanacho as replacements for Everton’s new £27 million striker Cenk Tosun, while Musa has been linked with a loan move to Bursaspor; however, Puel did rubbish those rumours. He told:
"“We will see,” said Puel, when asked if Musa would be sold.“Perhaps it is a possibility. We will see for the player and with the opportunity for the club also.“There is always discussion and I need to have some discussions about some players.“There’s a big chance that Musa will remain in England,“I’m however surprised about the link to Bursaspor. I don’t know where the rumour came from."