Ibrahim Sangare release clause revealed – Leicester should bid

It is safe to say that Leicester City transfer news has been rather hard to come by of late with fans getting frustrated at the lack of transfer activity. There have been few notable links but one that does stand out is PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare. Here’s the lowdown on why Leicester City must make decisive action.

Dutch magazine Voetbal International report that Sangare possesses a €35million release clause. This equates to just shy of £30m, which is a very reasonable sum for a powerhouse midfielder. Such a figure would be on the upper end of what City usually spend but for the qualities the Ivorian brings, it would certainly be worthwhile. What is more, the Ivory Coast international has said himself he sees himself playing in the Premier League, and the East Midlands outfit would be a logical move on paper.

What does Sangare bring to the table?

The Foxes already possess Wilfried Ndidi who is a quality enforcer if slightly limited on the ball but his absence has left a large hole in the team. With Wilf not being as reliable due to injury, it would be worthwhile to have someone who could not only fill in for him, but also provide competition for his place.

Sangare has racked up statistics that suggest he can certainly compete in the defensive side of the game, having 5.6 tackles and interceptions per game. This is hugely impressive output that rivals that of Ndidi. Furthermore, Sangare has the potential to become an impressive box-to-box midfielder due to his ball carrying abilities.

In comparison to Ndidi, the Ivorian averages over one dribble more per game and is more of an attacking threat, scoring three goals and two assists this campaign. If he were to further improve his range of passing and attacking output, he would be a pretty complete player.

Finally, perhaps the most important attribute he would bring is his height. Standing at six foot three, he would add much-needed brawn and aerial dominance to defend and attack set-pieces. Of course, his height wouldn’t be fully utilised without improved coaching in this area too.

Leicester City face stiff competition

Now the bad news. Leicester City would face stiff competition if they attempted to advance talks with Sangare. Not only are PSV reluctant to sell, with the midfielder still having three years left on his deal; there are a host of Premier League clubs interested in his services. These sides include Liverpool, Manchester United and newly-monied Newcastle United.

Although it would be unlikely for LCFC to beat the former two if push comes to shove, Sangare would be a smart purchase if Leicester act quickly enough. Given how long sides such as Manchester United often take for transfers, and the project Leicester can offer, it is worth at least trying to test PSV’s resolve.