Three things to know about Leicester transfer target Keylor Navas
By Ethan Henson
There was something of a surprise for Leicester City fans last week, as the club completed its first permanent January signing for five years in Victor Kristiansen. The answer to the quiz question is, of course, Fousseni Diabate, which is a name many City supporters might not have thought about for a long time.
With that particular early-year hurdle over come for those who sanction the City transfers, the business for this window might not be over yet. Tete of Lyon and Harry Souttar are now being spoke of as potential incomings, with a spectacular move for PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas now reportedly on the cards.
The veteran stopper would be an audacious signing for Brendan Rodgers’ men. Here at Foxes of Leicester, we decided to list three things to know about the Costa Rica international.
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He’s drowning in silverware
Being part of the furniture at a club with the stature of Real Madrid for so long, the medals, both domestic and continental, inevitably come flooding in. Navas spent five years with Los Blancos, picking up a litany of silverware.
Added to the La Liga title in 2016-17, three Champions League titles and four Club World Cup medals, Navas went onto to join PSG, where he picked up another seven domestic titles. Les Parisiens are on course to take the Ligue 1 title once more this season, although the Costa Rican is yet to make an appearance for the Parc de Princes club since the start of the campaign.
He’s older than you might think
It’s only been nine years since Navas’ name became a familiar fixture in European football circles, after his cross La Liga transfer from Levante to join the famous Bernabeu club. At that point, however, the goalkeeper was already 27 and well on the way to hitting the peak age for a footballer, which for a goalkeeper is usually late 20s to early 30s.
If Leicester City to land their man, age will not be a factor, with Navas not a huge amount of wear in his gloves having started his top-level career relatively late. For a goalkeeper, the PSG man appears relatively slight, but it’s not just his age that is deceptive, as he stands at 6 feet and one inch tall.
He’s quick with his hands
It seems like a standard requitement for a modern day goalkeeper, but quick-handedness and agility are traits that make Navas the outstanding goalkeeper that he is. Being not overly large in stature means he can get down easily to deny his opponents, and the stopper has been the enemy to many forwards who were wheeling away in celebration only to be denied.
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Navas also appeared at the recent FIFA World Cup, where he conceded 11 goals in three matches as his nation bowed out of the tournament following defeat to Germany in the final group game. He did, however, receive praise for his clean sheet against Japan, who had beaten group rivals Germany just a few days before.