In a recent report, talkSPORT claimed that Leicester City are eyeing a move for Southampton centre-back Jannik Vestergaard this summer. It is believed that the Foxes have identified the Denmark international as an ideal cover for Wesley Fofana who suffered a serious injury in a friendly match against Villarreal last week (via talkSPORT).
Vestergaard’s Impressive Form At St. Mary’s Stadium Last Season
Vestergaard had a solid campaign at the south coast of England recently after he produced a series of commanding displays at the heart of Ralph Hasenhüttl’s defence. The Hvidovre-born sensation participated in 32 matches for the Saints last season, netting three goals in the process across all fronts.
More importantly, the 29-year-old was a valuable presence on the defensive end of the field as he averaged 1.7 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 4.0 clearances per game in the Premier League. He was even quite accurate with his ball distribution based on his pass completion rate of 83.6% in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
Vestergaard’s current deal at St. Mary’s Stadium runs out at the end of next season, so Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers will be confident about landing the Danish defensive ace on a cut-price fee in this off-season. If the Saints are unwilling to sell their prized asset, the Foxes would have no choice but to wait until next summer when he becomes a free agent.
Is Vestergaard The Right Choice For The Foxes?
Standing 1.99m, Vestergaard can command his penalty box with authority as he can often overpower the opposition and dominate them in the air. He is a decent tackler of the ball and has got the hunger to make a few important interceptions for his team.
The Denmark international can even make himself big to block a goal-bound shot and usually clears his lines when in danger of being caught out at the back. He is a tidy passer of the ball and can chip in by heading home the odd goal from indirect set pieces.
At 29, Vestergaard still had a few good years left in him to play at top gear. He will undeniably add a lot of bite and steel to Leicester’s backline and could go on to form a dominant defensive partnership with Caglar Soyuncu at the King Power Stadium in the coming seasons. Hence, Vestergaard will be an excellent choice for the East Midlands club to recruit before the transfer deadline at the end of this month.
