After yet another season that saw them finish in the top half of the league table, Leicester City have missed out on the chance to compete in Europe. However, Claude Puel has big plans for the squad at the King Power and is busy scouting for players who can improve the first team at the club.
However, he is also looking to get rid of dead wood this summer and one such player who is now inching towards an exit is Ahmed Musa. The 25-year old produced a moment of brilliance to take Nigeria past Iceland in the group stages of the World Cup recently but that remains the only highlight of his season, which he spent in two different countries.
Musa joined Leicester City in 2016 and scored just two league goals in 21 matches in his debut campaign and did not show enough promise to steal a regular place in the starting XI last season. He started just one League Cup game under Puel and was sent out on loan to Russia after the turn of the year.
The Nigerian international came to the King Power to act as a backup to Jamie Vardy and fight for a place to play alongside him in a 4-4-2 system with the likes of Shinji Okazaki, Islam Slimani and Kelechi Iheanacho. His versatility was an added asset but the French manager does not seem to be impressed with what he has on offer.
He showed decent quality in the Russian league and also had his moments in the World Cup, At 25, Musa has a decent future ahead of him but it does not look like he is set to stay at Leicester.
Reports in Nigeria claim that Musa is close to joining Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr Riyad, who are readying a huge bid for him. It is understood that the financial incentives are expected to lure him to the Middle East to join former Premier League star Nordin Amrabat, who has left Watford to join the same club.
Al Nassr Riyad are happy to pay close to £30m for the attacker and it is hard to see the Foxes reject such an advance. Puel has already lost Riyad Mahrez this summer and is rebuilding his squad for the next season. Musa may have had a place in it, but a £30m offer is sure to seal his future.
He is a decent talent but Leicester City and Puel now have the liberty to spend on players that can make an immediate impact on the squad next season. Musa’s exit is expected to be confirmed in the coming days, so we can expect the Foxes to make some star signing before the end of the transfer window.
