Rumour Reel: Ranieri’s Foxes in the hunt for Ajax marksman Milik
Lee Gormley | May 18, 2016
After securing a historic Premier League title triumph, Claudio Ranieri will look to strengthen his Leicester City ranks for next season, and the Italian tactician is aiming for one talented Eredivisie hitman in particular…
Ranieri’s Foxes hunt Milik
England international Jamie Vardy led Leicester’s frontline for most of their remarkable top-flight campaign, firing in an impressive 24 goals, but Ranieri is hoping to add further firepower and is targeting Ajax striker Arkadiusz Milik.
The 22-year-old has become one of the brightest young forwards in Europe and is set to play a pivotal role for Poland alongside Bayern Munich marksman Robert Lewandowski at Euro 2016 this summer, with his clinical nature in front of goal seeing Leicester up their efforts to land him.
Since arriving in the Eredivisie for an initial loan spell, before eventually making his move to Ajax from Bayer Leverkusen permanent, Milik has already netted 47 times in 76 appearances, including 24 in the season gone by.
Such a threat up front for the Foxes would undoubtedly ease the scoring burden on Vardy and, with plenty of creative players around him, Milik could become a hit at the King Power Stadium, home of the current Premier League champions.
Man City must move swiftly for Sane
Another European starlet touted for a big money move to England is Schalke forward Leroy Sane, and it’s Manchester City who are reportedly leading the efforts to sign the Bundesliga wonderkid this summer.
Incoming boss Pep Guardiola will know a lot about the 20-year-old attacker from his time at Bayern and the Schalke starlet could become one of his first signings at the Etihad of the new era, as he prepares to swap Munich for Manchester.
Sane has struck nine times across the Bundesliga and Europa League this term for the Gelsenkirchen club and the single-cap Germany international is set to be the subject of a £30m bid this summer, as the Sky Blues look to avoid missing out on his signature to other European rivals.
Hammers switch focus to Benteke
Following a superb season under Slaven Bilic, in which they bid an emotional farewell to Upton Park, West Ham United moved swiftly by launching an audacious bid for Lyon and France marksman Alexandre Lacazette, only to have their £31m offer rejected.
Having seemingly been priced out of a move for the Ligue 1 frontman, the Hammers are now believed to have turned focus to out-of-favour Liverpool target man Christian Benteke, with the 25-year-old having fallen down the pecking order at Anfield.
The Belgium international forward could yet be involved in the Europa League final against Sevilla in Switzerland, but that could be the last Reds fans see of their misfiring former Aston Villa hitman, after a personally underwhelming campaign.
Related
With the summer soon upon us, Coral’s Rumour Reel is back in full swing, so check out other editions to ensure you don’t miss any major gossip.
Have a gander at our extensive Euro 2016 section too before the big kick-off.
