3 New Leicester transfer links to assess ahead of January
By Will Kennedy
Bryon Castillo
From one Barcelona player to another. This isn’t the Barcelona you’re thinking of though. This is Barcelona SC Guayaquil who play halfway across the world from Spain, in the LigaPro – Ecuador’s top tier football league.
The only link between the European giants and the South American club, is that Barcelona SC’s founder, Eutimio Pérez, came from Catalonia, and decided to name the club after his home city. It doesn’t help that their badges are similar.
Barcelona SC is where you will find one Bryon Castillo, an Ecuadorian fullback who has been linked with Leicester City, Everton, and Liverpool. Leicester, however, according to Sport Witness, are ahead of the Merseyside duo as they have contacted his club and have asked for the player, though this is as advanced as it gets so far.
So, who is he? Castillo is a 23-year-old Ecuadorian who plays on the right side of defence – though he is equally as capable playing on the left as well. Leicester have a track record in recruiting fullbacks who are versatile on both sides of the defensive line – Castagne, Justin and Ricardo are equally adept on either side.
Castillo has been making a name of himself this season, playing in every single minute of LigaPro (13) whilst he has scored 2 and assisted 3 – the type of numbers that an attacking fullback usually delivers for Leicester. It’s not only in the league that he has impressed, his 12 appearances in the Copa Libertadores have also caught the eye.
Castillo is also an established international for Ecuador. With 6 caps to him name since September, he has now claimed his place as his country’s starting right back. This all means that a work permit wouldn’t be an issue if he were to move to the Premier League.
Do Leicester City need him? Castillo is a risky one. If the step up for Comas would be huge, then this is a leap and a half in quality of competition. Currently valued at £720K, it wouldn’t be a huge financial risk, but I don’t know if he is a player that Leicester should pursue.
Ricardo hasn’t been firing on all cylinders this season, but with Castagne performing consistently, and with James Justin returning to fitness this month, I don’t think this is an issue that needs fixing in the transfer market. Add to that the young talent of Luke Thomas and Vontae Daley-Campbell, and the signing of Castillo almost feels like a waste.
Leicester would be much better using their money to sign players in key areas of the pitch that need addressing rather than further bulking out the number of fullbacks they have.