After big speculation in the recent weeks linking Middlesbrough’s playmaker Gaston Ramirez with a move to Leicester City, Boro boss Aitor Karanka finally confirmed that they have rejected a bid from the Kings Power Stadium.
The situation currently seems quite confusing and alarming at the same time for Boro. Despite Karanka revealing that the player has handed in a transfer request to the club, he still wants to keep him in his plans for the second remainder of the season.
Ramirez is undoubtedly one of the best players of Boro, who has made quite an impact in the attacking third for them at times. Although he has only scored two goals so far, the Uruguayan put in some sublime individual performances in the first half of the season.
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has remained tight-lipped on Ramirez’s situation, although he did clarify that his transfer has nothing to do with their forward Leonardo Ulloa’s possible departure from the club. The player has put in a transfer request and is determined to leave before the window closes next Tuesday.
However, with the transfer window closing in a week, a move to Kings Power Stadium for Ramirez is highly unlikely and Leicester City would have to look at other options to bolster their attacking midfield.
Here are 3 alternatives-
Robin Quaison- This Palermo midfielder has attracted a lot of interest from clubs all across. Despite the Sicilians struggling to find any sort of form in the current Serie A season, Quaison’s performances have stood out. Quite the utility player like Gaston Ramirez in the attacking third, Quaison can play through the middle as well as on the flanks.
He has scored four goals in 16 appearances so far and Watford are one of his prime suitors as Walter Mazzarri is on a rampage to bolster his attack more and more. Hence, Leicester have to make a move fast if they want to land the 23-year-old Swedish international.
Jonathan Cafu- Cafu came into the spotlight after his heroics in the European campaign this season. Although Ludogorets didn’t manage to qualify, his impressive tenacity has garnered a lot of interest from clubs.
The 25-year-old joined Ludogorets in 2015 and has established himself as a key player for the Bulgarian side, scoring 19 goals in 54 appearances in his two seasons. His dribbling skills and ice-cool finishing could be a huge asset for Leicester City, who have hugely struggled to find the back of the net this season.
Bojan Krkic- This Barcelona youth product was one of the stars in pep Guardiola’s brilliant Barcelona team and when he finally arrived in the Premier League, a lot of expectations followed him. Bojan had stormed onto the scene with his astonishing composure on the ball scoring 16 goals in 20 appearances for the Spanish U-17 side. But the Spanish international has been a huge failure. Although it is fair to say that Mark Hughes has hardly given the 26-year-old any chance, but the player has clearly lost his edge.
He has managed to score only three times in nine appearances this season. And regular game time might get him back his lost touch.
