Galatasaray boss wants Leicester City striker

Leicester City striker Shinji Okazaki is being eyed by Galatasaray manager Fatih Terim – that’s according to Turkish outlet AMK Spor.

Terim has apparently told the club that he wants the Japanese international in January, which could set off a chain of events in the upcoming weeks.

Okazaki – whose contract expires at the end of the season – would be available on a free transfer next summer, and this is exactly what the Turkish Lig giants are looking to make full use of.

Galatasaray sold Bafetimbi Gomis to Al Hilal earlier this season, and they’ve since not been able to replace the Frenchman. Terim is clearly sensing a very good opportunity here.

Most Leicester fans will agree that it’s time to move on from Okazaki. He’s 32 already, and if given a contract extension, then he’d barely fetch £1 even a year from now. It would therefore represent some really sensible decision making if he’s sold for some decent money a month or so from now.

He has made 11 appearances this season, and only three of them are starts. While he did start in the 1-1 draw against Brighton and Hove Albion, that’s nothing to read into.

Claude Puel has always been reluctant to have ageing players in his team, with only Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel consistently proving to be exceptions to that rule. If you think that Okazaki starting last week could mean that there is more to come, then that might not be the case.

Yes, Puel will need him during the festive period to keep his first-choice players fir but that’s that. After December, Okazaki will again be limited to cup competitions – if Leicester are still in them at the time.

It’s better to let him leave, free up some space for the younger players and possibly bring someone cheap, though sharper and younger.