Leicester City are being linked with a move for Benfica midfielder Rafa Silva. The attacking midfielder has been unimpressive so far and it appears that Benfica are not very keen to keep the Portuguese midfielder. A number of English clubs were interested in the player’s signature including Everton and Leicester City in the January transfer window.
It was being reported that the English clubs were interested in taking the player on loan in the January transfer window with an option to make the permanent in summer should he play well. Benfica were reportedly holding out for a fee close to £26.5 million but it was unlikely that any club was going to pay so much for a player who has failed to prove himself so far.
Leicester’ situation with their star winger Riyad Mahrez is far from ideal. The Algerian was clearly upset after failing to move to Manchester City on the deadline day and missed a week’s training after that. Manchester City failed to negotiate a deal for Foxes winger Riyad Mahrez despite offering a lucrative deal. It was said that Claude Puel was holding out for a player plus cash deal that included Patrick Roberts moving to the King Power Stadium. Manchester City were on terms with moving on Roberts but baulked at Leicester’s demand in terms of the transfer sum and the move collapsed.
As for the Foxes, Leicester City’s fairytale grasped the attention of the entire world in the 2015-16 season. From being threatened by relegation in the 2014-15 season, Claudio Ranieri’s side went on to an incredible title win the next season as the world stood to watch in amazement.
Winning the Premier League changed the club overnight. They have since become one of the English sides to have represented England in Europe and have been linked with big-name signings. As several big names have made their way to the club, Leicester has grown in stature.
As Ranieri made way for Craig Shakespeare, the influx of new players continued with the club optimistic of another strong season in England’s top flight. Shakespeare who took charge of the club last season after title-winning manager Claudio Ranieri was sacked unceremoniously in February, led the foxes to a twelfth place finish last season. He has since been replaced by Claude Puel who has done an excellent job at the King Power Stadium.
It would now seem that adding a player like Silva could prove to be another useful move. Mahrez’s fate at Leicester is all but decided with the player ready to move on in the next transfer window and Leicester will need to replace him. Having an exciting talent like Silva could go a long way but Leicester will have to negotiate a price that is acceptable for both parties and with the player’s market value rated in such vast difference by both clubs; that is where the deal can collapse.
