The Telegraph has recently reported that Leicester City have held talks to land Southampton defender Jannik Vestergaard this summer. It is understood that the Foxes are looking to strengthen their defensive options ahead of the new season and have identified the Danish centre-back as an ideal target for this summer transfer window (via The Telegraph).
Vestergaard’s Decent Form At St. Mary’s Stadium Last Season
Vestergaard was a dominant presence at the heart of the Saints backline last season and managed to impress with his performances on the defensive end of the pitch. The Denmark international made 32 appearances for Ralph Hasenhüttl’s team in the previous campaign, scoring three goals across all competitions.
The 29-year-old performed well to average 1.7 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 4.0 clearances per 90 minutes in the 2020-21 Premier League season. He even distributed the ball accurately from inside his half after completing 83.6% of his attempted passes in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
Vestergaard has proven himself to be a trustworthy centre-half in English football, so he will be a massive coup for the Foxes if they can successfully bring him to the King Power Stadium before the end of this month. His current contract at St. Mary’s Stadium will end next summer, so Brendan Rodgers could potentially sign him for a cut-price fee in this off-season.
What Will The Danish Defensive Ace Add To Brendan Rodgers’ Team?
Vestergaard can make full use of his towering 1.99m frame to dominate the opposition in the air and clear the danger when needed. He can disrupt the opponent’s rhythm in the game by making some solid tackles to secure the ball back for his side.
The 29-time Denmark international is a tidy passer of the ball and can be a potent goal-threat inside the opposition penalty box during indirect set-pieces. However, his lack of mobility can sometimes make him a liability on the field, especially when he is caught out of position.
There is no doubt that Vestergaard will add a lot of bite and steel to Leicester’s defensive department and would serve as a good cover for Wesley Fofana, who is facing a spell on the sidelines after picking up a serious injury. The Danish talent has what it takes to strike up a solid defensive partnership with Caglar Soyuncu at the King Power over the next few years. Therefore, Rodgers would be wise to try everything in his power to lure Vestergaard to the East Midlands during this summer transfer period.
