The Portuguese midfielder is considering a move to Leicester City after receiving ‘optimistic news’ about the players’ future. Steve Cooper is continuing to strengthen his midfield options ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season. Days after assuming the job at the King Power Stadium, star midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall expressed his desire to play for former Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, leaving a major gap for Cooper to fill in the summer window. However, he has made substantial headway in his search for midfield targets, with Celtic’s Matt O’Riley and former Coventry City player Callum O’Hare mentioned as prospective midfield options.
Ndidi, a Nigerian international, will join Leicester City, bolstering Cooper’s midfield expertise in the Premier League. They’ve also identified a Portuguese midfielder with a ‘uncertain’ future at his current club. Leicester are reportedly interested in signing Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis, according to Portuguese publication Jornal de Notícias. In comparison to Casemiro, the 24-year-old midfielder is expected to cost £26 million. Everton, Leicester, and Nottingham Forest reportedly ‘continue to follow’ the situation and are interested in purchasing the Portuguese U21 international, who is available because Benfica ‘does not close doors’ for offers.
Luis, dubbed ‘outstanding’ by his former Benfica manager Joao Tralhao, has 15 Champions League outings to his name, including a starring part in Benfica’s 2022/23 squad that advanced to the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Inter Milan. What would Florentino Luis offer for Leicester City? Goals are the last thing to expect from the defensive midfielder, who has only scored three times in 256 appearances for club and country. Despite playing in a similar position, Luis will provide an alternative to Leicester City’s Harry Winks in midfield.
Luis excels when given the opportunity to break up play, intercept, and tackle, offering added security to the backline that he sits directly in front of. Luis, like an N’Golo Kante 2.0, will be able to work his socks off for Cooper’s side if he is signed, and he might be key in games and times where the Foxes are under pressure, as is likely in the Premier League. Cooper would be making a wise decision to bring in this type of player to provide his team a fighting edge and a backup plan in case Winks in defensive-midfield isn’t performing to his full potential.
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