Leicester City have been linked with a move for Torino right-back Lorenzo De Silvestri – but would he be the right addition? We have a look:
The case for buying Lorenzo De Silvestri
Leicester City may have already spent £22 million on Ricardo Pereira, who straightaway slots in as the first choice right-back, but if, in case he’s unfortunately injured, or experiences a drop in form, then the Foxes don’t really have a decent back up option to count upon – someone who can really be a threat.
The ageing Danny Simpson is not the man for the right flank anymore, and young Daniel Amartey and Alex Pascanu are both some way off of where they have to be in order to make a case for themselves.
While Amartey and Pascanu are well worth investing time in, Simpson is not, simply because he has peaked and he won’t play any better than he currently is. If Leicester can sell him for something over £5 million, it would be a good bit of business, and they can use that money to fund a deal for Lorenzo De Silvestri.
Even though 30, De Silvestri is still recognised for being an explosive, powerful and marauding full-back – his seven goals and five assists in 39 appearances last season being a proof of just that.
Add to that, he is a better defensive option as well with his aerial abilities being of particular note. For those obssessed with numbers, the Italian has a WhoScored rating of 6.95 as compared to Simpson’s 6.58. Quite a backup to have.
The case against buying Lorenzo De Silvestri
Buying another right-back isn’t an immediate priority for Leicester City. They have strengthened with Pereira, and they must now be focused on spending big to add to their central areas in the middle of the park and at the back.
With Torino wanting to keep hold of De Silvestri, it would at least take £15 million to lure them into selling the former Sampdoria defender. Now, would it be a wise decision to spend that much, keeping in mind that there are three options available? Obviously not, plus, Aleksandar Dragovic, who is set to make his deal permanent, can operate as a right-back, too.
Unless Claude Puel really wants his first backup to be really good in all departments – and can make some money off Simpson – there doesn’t really seem a reason why a move for Lorenzo De Silvestri should make sense to him.
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Simpson may not be the ideal man to provide cover for Ricardo Pereira, but he is at least an experienced campaigner, and by no means at the stage where selling him feels like an urgency. Let’s not forget that he was the first choice the previous season.
While he’s there, he can at least offer the young duo of Amartey and Pascanu some assistance before the club prepares to bid farewell to him. Still, if Leicester City have got some spare cash, then they can obviously pay Torino’s price and get De Silvestri.