According to a recent report by The Sun, Premier League high-flyers Leicester City are being linked with a winter move for the services of Southampton’s Danish international centre-half Jannik Vestergaard, as Brendan Rodgers looks to strengthen his team’s bid to secure Champions League football next season. It has been suggested that the Foxes are close to a deal for the experienced Premier League defender and that the Saints are willing to sell their man as well.
The report claims that Leicester have already begun preparing a bid in the region of £15m for the Danish defender’s signature and that the Saints are considering sacrificing their man having almost secured Premier League safety already this season. The Leicester City boss is said to have turned his attention to the big Dane after a failed approach for the services of Juventus star Merih Demiral.
Why Are Leicester City Targeting Centre-Halves This Winter?
The Foxes had an almost unbelievable start to the season, and to everyone’s shock, have somehow managed to sustain the form until January. They currently find themselves in third place and hot on the tail of Manchester City, but are being threatened from below by the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United. Frank Lampard’s Blues are the Foxes’ most immediate threat, and keeping up with that talented group of players for the remainder of the season, could prove to be a strenuous task for Rodgers and his men.
With Wes Morgan now struggling with injuries and the manager keen on loaning Filip Benkovic out for a while, it does seem reasonable for Leicester to go into the market and find some defensive reinforcements. Jonny Evans is already the wrong side of his thirties as well now, meaning that the time to look for his replacement could be fast approaching. With Rodgers still adamant on a top-four finish, it would be surprising if the Foxes didn’t sign another defender before the end of the transfer window.
Why Brendan Rodgers Must Acquire Vestergaard This Month
The Danish centre-half has featured in a total of 39 appearances for the Saints since joining from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2018. His physical superiority over most attackers is what makes him such a desirable option for many of the Premier League’s top clubs. Standing at more than 6ft6in tall, the 27-year-old is capable of winning every aerial ball that comes his way, and is a general threat from set-pieces as well.
Despite his hefty stature, the Dane is more than capable of tracking back and making last-ditch challenges. He’s showcased his qualities as a defender on many occasions in a Southampton shirt, and signing him would indeed be a smart piece of business by the Foxes. Brendan Rodgers’ Champions League aspirations have been no secret since the start of the campaign, and signing a centre-half of Vestergaard’s quality would be a massive step in the right direction for the Midlands club.
