Leicester and Newcastle want prolific French teenage striker
Leicester City are interested in Hugo Ekitike, who has scored eight goals and registered four assists in his 17 appearances for Reims FC.
Leicester have found some form lately as they start to show partially dominant and more consistent performances. In the latest matches the ideology of attacking and defending has been clearer than before. However, injuries are not doing any favours to Brendan Rodgers; his team is likely without a fit recognised striker for when they travel to Turf Moor to play Burnley this Saturday.
Patson Daka and Jamie Vardy are both unavailable due to hamstring injuries; while Kelechi Iheanacho is on International duty with Nigeria at AFCON. When you have no fit players in one particular position rumours start to arise – especially if is currently a transfer window. According to French media outlet Foot Mercato, the Foxes want Hugo Ekitike. Newcastle United are also considering a bid for the player.
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Leicester Mercury had reported the rumoured price to be around £30million. Some might argue that the east Midlands club won’t be willing to pay that amount as they already have three quality assets in the same role.
The French teenager is a centre-forward at Reims FC and has been at the club since 2013, finally signing the professional contract in 2020 July. The 19-year-old has been labelled as a ‘wonderkid’ and has drawn comparisons with Kylian Mbappe.
When asked about the likeness, the France Under-20 International replied,
"“Over the last few years, he is the player I watch the most, who inspires me, and not necessarily only on the pitch. That’s what it means to be a top-level player and that’s what I aspire to become.”Foot Mercato."
Ekitike possesses a very similar burst of pace to Paris Saint-Germain’s number seven, as well as also being very comfortable in taking on defenders. Some may still classify him as a raw talent who needs some more time to mature but he is surely of a calibre to look out for in coming years.
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Kasper Schmeichel’s captained side have not struggled to score goals, attacking brilliantly at times – but have conceded much easily. Many matches have ended in a cricket score, henceforth for me the priority should be to bolster the defence rather than going for an attacking option. Moreover for an attacking threat, eyes should be on a proper left-footed right-winger rather than a central attacker.