According to a recent report by Greek news outlet Sportime.gr, Premier League high-flyers Leicester City are said to be considering the possibility of signing Greek international full-back Konstantinos Tsimikas in the summer. The link between the player and the club emerged after the Foxes’ first-choice full-back Ben Chilwell was touted to make a move away from the King Power Stadium to join Chelsea, as has been reported by Goal among many others.
The report claims that the Leicester City scouts have identified Tsimikas as an ideal replacement for Chilwell, who could be sold if a big enough offer does come from any suitors in the summer. It has also been suggested that the £23m-rated full-back has been on the Foxes’ radar ever since the days of Eduardo Macia, who has also had a stint at Tsimikas’ current club Olympiacos. Despite the former Leicester recruitment chief’s departure from the Midlands last season, the Foxes seem to have maintained their interest in the young Greek defender.
What Would The Foxes Be Losing By Letting Ben Chilwell Leave?
The 23-year-old Englishman has undoubtedly been one of Brendan Rodgers’ most influential players since the start of the season. Despite not quite hitting the same level of form as last year when he seemed to be tearing teams apart with assists, the full-back has showcased his sheer quality on multiple occasions along the way. Chilwell is a willing runner down the Foxes’ left-side, where his partnership with young Harvey Barnes has yielded excellent results.
What Makes Konstantinos Tsimikas A Viable Option For Leicester?
For starters, the Greek international is 23 years old, meaning that the youngster still has a long career ahead of him. The full-back can best be described as a buccaneering speedster who likes you get forward on every possible opportunity. The Foxes’ wing-play this season has been focused quite a bit on their full-backs, and although Ricardo Pereira does seem to be a doing a better job than Chilwell on paper, they’re both equally important parts of the team.
Adding Tsimikas into the scene in place of Ben Chilwell could end up working wonders for the Midlands club. The Greek defender is a willing runner who is rather comfortable picking up uncharacteristically advanced positions in the final third, and would hence be a little more on Pereira’s wavelength than the aforementioned Englishman. Also, the fact that he’s still young means that his defensive work-rate would not be a concern for the Leicester scouts.
Why Leicester City Must Go For Tsimikas If Chilwell Leaves?
Chilwell is unquestionably one of the more important cogs in Rodgers’ well-oiled Leicester City machine, and a sudden departure could end up having massive repercussions. Tsimikas has played in 20 Greek Super League appearances this season and has contributed with five assists. Chilwell, on the other hand, has just three assists from his 23 Premier League fixtures, despite having some top quality players to support him all around.
When Chilwell first broke into the scene, it was quite clear that he was the real deal. However, taking this season into account, the Foxes would do well to cash in on him and go for Tsimikas in the summer if possible.
