The 22-year-old Czech international forward may be headed to the King Power Stadium amid reports in Germany of an agreed loan deal between City and Bayer Leverkusen. Adam Hlozek is the type of player who is included on lists of dream acquisitions, therefore his prospective loan-to-buy deal with Leicester City would, on paper, be a great move. While the Premier League has a strong pull, given City’s current situation, it did not appear that they would be able to entice players from Champions League clubs this summer. So, why would they be able to sign Hlozek from Bayer Leverkusen?
Simply put, the 22-year-old Czech Republic international does not look to be a key component in Xabi Alonso’s plans. Hlozek may have played 36 games in Leverkusen’s remarkable season last year, when they went undefeated in the Bundesliga and German Cup and advanced to the Europa League final, but he only started 11 of them. They have since signed another attacker, Martin Terrier.
So Hlozek is seeking for a club that can provide him with greater opportunities, and if he joins City, he will be key to the team’s assault. However, he is versatile enough that it is unclear where he would play, as City has to improve in the majority of the positions he plays. In his teens, Hlozek played a lot of football out wide, but near the end of his career with Sparta Prague, he shifted into a center position, mostly as a second striker behind a number nine. At Leverkusen, he was primarily a striker, but he sometimes played on the flanks and as a number ten.
City is currently in severe need of a striker, and they are also interested in Panathinaikos’ Fotis Ioannidis. Hlozek has a similar frame, at 6ft 2in although possibly not as stocky as the Greek. Their skill sets also share similarities, with both players excelling in tight spaces and dribbling the ball in the final third. Ioannidis has had the greater strike rate in recent seasons, while Hlozek’s goal tally may be masked by his Leverkusen minutes. He has only scored seven Bundesliga goals in two seasons with the club, but that averages out to one every 248 minutes. This equates to 14 goals over the course of a whole Premier League season.
But Hlozek also provides creativity, having set up seven goals in the Bundesliga. He recorded a hat-trick of assists in one of the two Bundesliga games in which he played 90 minutes last season. In terms of combined predicted goals and assists per 90 minutes, he was tenth among all German top flight players. He appears to be an all-around superb forward. It’s a wonder Hlozek hasn’t gotten more game time. But he arrived at Leverkusen with a strong reputation, which still accompanies him around.
The Czech has been tipped for the top since making his debut with Sparta Prague at the age of 16. He scored on his cup debut and became the club’s youngest player in league history. By the age of 17, he had become Sparta’s primary man. By the age of 18, he had achieved senior international status. Despite missing a significant portion of the season due to injuries, he finished as the Czech Republic’s top scorer in 2020-21, scoring 15 goals in 19 appearances. He only turned 18 a month before the season started.
All of these elements add up to a weight of expectation on Hlozek, and if he arrives at City, the burden on his shoulders may increase. They would need him to contribute significantly if they were to survive this season. But the pressure could motivate him. Hlozek will be eager to return to playing frequently after having received few opportunities in the previous year. There will be room in the City team for him, regardless of which position Steve Cooper believes he is best suited for. Then it would be up to Hlozek to deliver.
This could be the most impressive deal of the summer at the King Power Stadium because it brings in a very talented attacking player who is eager to prove himself without paying a large fee up front – according to reports in Germany, the obligatory £15 million transfer only comes into play next summer if City stay up.
