Leicester City are closing in on the signing of 19-year-old Sporting Clube de Portugal attacker Abdul Fatawu Issahaku on a season-long loan with an option to buy, according to reports.
The Foxes’ interest in Issahaku was first reported by the Daily Mail earlier in the week. The outlet claimed that the Ghana international has a price tag of £12 million on his head.
Now, Jack Taylor from the Express has revealed that Leicester City are closing in on the signing of Issahaku and an agreement between the two clubs is expected to include an option-to-buy clause, meaning the Championship side can purchase the player at any time before his loan ends.
Portuguese outlet A Bola, via SportWitness, have stated that Issahaku is booked in for his medical which will be completed very soon and that Sporting CP have inserted a term in the deal which will give them a percentage of the player’s future transfer fee should Leicester City sell the playmaker.
Furthermore, Taylor is reporting that the former Premier League champions are still finalising the loan signing of Galatasaray winger Yunus Akgün and both deals could be confirmed before the transfer window closes next Friday.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference yesterday ahead of Leicester City’s trip to Rotherham United this afternoon, head coach Enzo Maresca admitted that he needs wingers in his side.
The former Manchester City first-team coach said [via Leicestershire Live]:
“It’s quite clear we need wingers. It’s one, two, three, I don’t know, but we need wingers.”
Now, Maresca is getting what he wants as both Akgün and Issahaku excel in the wide areas, although the latter can also operate in more central positions too.
Writer’s View
These are two really good signings for Leicester City as both men will add much-needed quality to the attacking department, particularly on the flanks which have been barren since Harvey Barnes left in the summer.
Issahaku is a very versatile player too, capable of playing down the middle as a number ’10’, offering Maresca some flexibility with his team selection up top.