Leicester have agreed a deal with Southampton worth an initial £15m for Danish centre-back Jannik Vestergaard, who has been playing in the Premier League since 2018.
Having already seen Wes Morgan retire at the end of last season, the Foxes are in the market for a centre-back after losing both Jonny Evans and Wesley Fofana to injury ahead of the new season. The latter is a long-term absentee as a result a broken leg and ligament damage.
Leicester are moving to bring in cover for the injured Wesley Fofana and they have struck a deal with Southampton for Jannik Vestergaard. The Dane will cost around £15m including add-ons. Both sides seem happy with the deal. Brave sale from Southampton this late in the window.
— Graeme Bailey (@GraemeBailey) August 11, 2021
Vestergaard has made 72 Premier League appearances for Southampton to date and enjoyed his best season with the Saints in 2020/21. 90min has been informed that the deal will go through for £15m plus add-ons and will be completed by the weekend.
The towering Vestergaard, who is into the final year of his Southampton contract, started five of Denmark’s six games at Euro 2020, including the semi-final against England.
Prior to moving to England, the defender had played exclusively in Germany after leaving Denmark as a teenager, turning out for Hoffenheim, Werder Bremen and Borussia Monchengladbach. He even played in the Champions League for the latter in 2016/17, which will bring invaluable experience to the Leicester squad ahead of competing in the Europa League against this season.
Caglar Soyuncu was partnered by Daniel Amartey in last weekend’s Community Shield win over Manchester City, with Filip Benkovic, who has played only twice for Leicester since arriving in 2018, the only other recognised centre-back in the matchday squad.
Evans is likely to be out of action until the September international break because of his ongoing heel problem, while Fofana had surgery on Monday and won’t play again until at least 2022.
For Vestergaard to be eligible for selection for Leicester’s opening game of the Premier League season against Wolves on Saturday afternoon, he has to be registered by 12pm on Friday.
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Source : 90min