According to a recent report from Turkish media outlet Fotospor, Leicester City are interested in signing Turkish midfielder Ozan Tufan. Crystal Palace and La Liga outfit Sevilla are also said to be in the mix. Fenerbahce are expected not to entertain any offers below €20m.
The midfielder has made 21 appearances in all competitions for Fenerbahce this season, and he has bagged two goals and five assists. Tufan’s current contract at the club will keep him until 2023, but an offer above €20m could do the trick for the chasing clubs. The 24- year old is seen more as a defensive-minded midfielder as he can help keep things tight in the middle.
Leicester City are currently on track to secure a Champions League finish. This will be a significant achievement for them under their first full season under Brendan Rodgers. However, the Foxes have struggled a bit in the last few weeks. Many have attributed the loss of form to them missing their midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.
Ndidi is undoubtedly a vital cog in Rodgers’ system, and his dynamism helps the Foxes keep things ticking in the middle. He also showcases decent on-the-ball ability apart from his usual proficiency to thwart the opposition’s attack. The Leicester man can also form a good base for attacking moves.
Maybe Rodgers sees Tufan as another option to play in the Ndidi role. Hamza Choudhury is the backup to Ndidi, and he has done well in patches. Tufan though, can be a more experienced option as he is a 49 time Turkish international.
What can Ozan Tufan add to Leicester City’s team?
The 24-year-old can play in a box to box role or as a defensive midfielder or as a right back. Tufan started his career with Turkish side Bursaspor and made his top-flight debut at the age of 18. Even though he is 24, he has gained a decent amount of experience.
Ozan Tufan showcases good aggression, commitment, strength and physicality in midfield. He is known for making well-timed tackles. The physical and fast nature of the Premier League would undoubtedly test him, but he seems to have that side of the game to thrive in the English top flight. One area where Tufan might need to improve on is his passing range.
He can carry the ball well out from the back, and can also fill in as a right back. However, given the way Leicester play, Tufan might have to show more composure while spreading passes from midfield.
Should Rodgers go for him?
If Leicester can keep Ndidi for the next season and Choudhury remains as a backup option, then we don’t see the need for the Foxes to go after a midfielder like Tufan. Rodgers must be dreaming about making Leicester a powerhouse and a regular at the Champions League level. For that, they will probably need to show more ambition in the transfer market as the Turkish midfielder doesn’t seem to be an upgrade over the current options at the King Power.
