Rumour Reel: Sigurdsson and Slimani sought by Foxes
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | May 15, 2016
Premier League champions Leicester City are preparing a double attacking swoop this summer ahead of next season’s Champions League adventure, according to the Sunday papers at home and abroad.
Foxes have Sigurdsson scent
Swansea City joint top scorer Gylfi Sigurdsson is reportedly attracting Claudio Ranieri’s attention after netting 11 top-flight goals this term, and a £15m bid is being readied.
While the Foxes played 4-4-2 en route to title glory, there is a lack of natural attacking midfielders among the options at the King Power Stadium.
Signing Iceland international Sigurdsson, 26, would certainly address this, and he possesses plenty of English football experience, having started his career at Reading and then returning from a spell abroad with Bundesliga boys Hoffenheim by signing for the Swans on loan and then Spurs.
Although his time at Tottenham saw him only used as a squad player, Sigurdsson will be one of his country’s stars at Euro 2016 thanks to getting regular football with Liberty Stadium side Swansea.
Snaring Slimani another possibility
Potentially joining Sigurdsson at Leicester could be Sporting Lisbon’s leading marksman and Algeria international striker Islam Slimani, who would cost around £23m.
The 27-year-old has scored 30 goals in all competitions for the Portuguese Primeira Liga giants, and had previously been linked with a Premier League move to Crystal Palace in January.
At the King Power Stadium, Slimani would compete with Jamie Vardy, Shinji Okazaki and Leonardo Ulloa for a spot up front.
Spurs eye Embolo
Leicester’s closest challengers Spurs, meanwhile, are looking at adding to their own attacking options by keeping tabs on Basel teenage talent Breel Embolo.
Born in Cameroon, but set to represent Switzerland at Euro 2016, 19-year-old Embolo has been billed ‘the next Didier Drogba’.
Current club Basel are Swiss Super League champions yet again, and can therefore give the player Champions League football. They have set an asking price of £20m to secure Embolo’s services.
Guardiola tempted by trio
Incoming Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is expecting to shake up the squad at the Etihad this summer, and the latest reports claim he will raid London pair Arsenal and Tottenham for their talents.
Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere, 24, and Chile forward Alexis Sanchez, 27, are both attracting the Catalan coach’s attention, though the latter is also linked to Guardiola’s old team Bayern Munich.
Spurs left back Danny Rose, 25, could come to Man City too, with the futures of both Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov in doubt.
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