Leicester City in pole position to sign Ricardo Pereira

Leicester City are very close to agreeing a deal for FC Porto and Portugal right-back Ricardo Pereira, according to A Bola. 

The highly rated full back is expected to sign a long-term contract with the Foxes and could possibly be the highest paid player at the club.

The Foxes were earlier reported to have been preparing an opening bid worth £22 million; however, the Portuguese defender has a release clause understood to be around £36 million in his current contract, meaning that he may well end up as a record signing for the club.

The Portugal international has made 41 appearances this season, with his positions ranging from that of a full-back to a secondary striker alongside other advanced roles on the right side of the pitch.

Ricardo Pereira also has seven assists and two goals to his name this season, so the attacking potential is definitely there alongside other abilities that have led to teams like Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Juventus and Valencia expressing their interest in him, too.

A product of both Benfica and Sporting Lisbon’s academies, Ricardo Pereira is already aware of what it’s like to play under Claude Puel, having worked with him when he was at OGC Nice in 2015.

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The 24-year old returned to his parent club FC Porto a year after the the Frenchman left for Southampton and has since established himself as a vital part of a side that’s very much in contention for the Primeira Liga title.

However, as it has turned out, he is finding the lure of playing under Claude Puel too much to resist.