Claude Puel’s Leicester City are finding some consistency this season as they now stand in the 8th place in the points table, halfway through the season. The manager will want his side to compete for a place in Europe but knows that they might need some fresh faces, to keep their decent run going, for the second half of the season.
This has seen the Foxes linked with a number of exciting talents from across Europe and one player they are keen to sign is Portuguese international Andre Almeida.
A transfer target for the club even previously, Almeida is one of the exciting youngsters on show in the Portuguese domestic league and has won it in each of the last four years. He joined the club back in 2011 but only managed to establish himself in the first team since 2014. He now remains their first choice right-back and has two goals and three assists in 15 Liga NOS starts.
Strong in the air and in hold up play, Almeida is a gifted footballer, whose vision in passing is admirable. He has a high key pass ratio and can create chances consistently in the final third. However, he loves to sit back and play short passes, taking time to open up defenses, a system Benfica are very much used to.
He is also not afraid to throw himself around and can win the ball back quickly, thanks to his understanding of the game. He is always on the front foot, trying to make things happen rather than wait for them and reports claim that Puel is convinced that he is the right man for his side and had scouts watching him in the last two games.
At 27, he has 8 international appearances for Portugal, 136 Liga NOS appearances and 30 Champions League appearances, which make him an established star. His versatility have seen him play at CB, RB and CDM in his time in Portugal but the Foxes are expected to use him in his regular right-back spot.
Danny Simpson remains the first choice right-back for Puel this season and though he has been in decent form, needs a replacement, now that he is 30. Aleksandar Dragovic has just started one league game this season and does not seem to have won the trust of his manager.
Simpson will remain first choice even if the Foxes are able to land Almeida but the 27-year old Portuguese international is definitely an upgrade on Dragovic and can be a long term replacement for Simpson, for years to come.
He is just reaching his prime and will only get better but do you think he is the right man for Leicester City and Claude Puel?
