Numerous reports have claimed that Leicester City are stepping up their interest in Celtic centre-half Erik Sviatchenko after the Danish international had turned down a chance to join the Foxes in the January transfer window.
After the hugely criticised club’s decision of removing their legendary manager, Claudio Ranieri, from the helm last month, the Foxes haven’t lost a single match before today’s loss Vs Everton. Under new boss, Craig Shakespeare, their target has dramatically changed from escaping the relegation zone to finishing in the top half.
While Leicester City had conceded a whopping 43 goals in the first 25 games under Ranieri, who delivered them their first Premier League title the previous season, they have let in just four goals in their last five games (before today’s match Vs Everton) under Shakespeare. And although there has been a massive improvement under the new boss, their huge instability at the back cannot go unnoticed.
It was this same duo of Wes Morgan and Robert Huth, who were immovable mountains last season stopping successfully the fiercest of attacks in the Premier League, that has now looked nervy and often slow to react. The debate of Leicester’s squad needing fresh blood has now been a hackneyed subject this season, and this transfer move could be a big move in solving that crisis.
Only 25, Sviatchenko has been one of the most impressive centre-halves across the continent. The 184cm enforcer is quite domineering in his aerial duels and could be a very intelligent game reader. Although he was determined to fight for a first team place under new boss Brendan Rodgers in January when Leicester came calling, only 13 starts with the Scottish giants this season might change his viewpoint now.
In a recent interview with Danish publication BT, Sviatchenko expressed, “Since January, I have not figured as much as I’d hoped. It is the first time in my career I have sat on the bench and not been selected, although, in fact, I’m fit… If Brendan Rodgers has decided that I am the third choice, I will do everything to prove that I must be one of the two in the middle.”
Well, he doesn’t sound like he will be trying to keep his place with Celtic at the end of the season and Shakespeare could get the player coming summer although his contract with Celtic goes till 2020.
An academy product of Danish side Viborg FF U19, FC Midtjylland picked him up early in his football career in 2006. He came up through the club’s ranks before Celtic picked him up last summer. He also has five caps for the national team and is touted as one for the future.
