Following the departure of Jamie Vardy, Leicester City’s hunt for their next striker continues. Despite being 38 years old, the Englishman still scored nine league goals last season and played over 2,800 minutes. Furthermore, with Patson Daka not being reliable enough, City appear to be looking for their next talisman.
Fellow Championship Club Bid For Leicester City Target
Richard Kone: On The Move?
As reported by BBC Sport Wales, Swansea have reportedly offered £4.5M for Richard Kone, after the Wycombe star found the net 19 times in all competitions last season. The striker’s goals led his side to a fifth-place finish.
In addition to the Welsh side’s pursuit, multiple other Championship clubs are also displaying interest. Ipswich, Norwich and Middlesbrough join Leicester City in the race for the Ivorian talent, who recently turned 22 years old. He won both the League One Player Of The Season and Young Player of the Season, indicating why many clubs are interested.
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If the Foxes were able to win the battle and secure the forward’s services, it would be the club’s first arrival of the summer. With Marti Cifuentes arriving just over two weeks ago, it comes as no surprise that the Foxes haven’t been active. Furthermore, with many players on the verge of leaving, finding new options isn’t necessarily the priority.
How Does This Affect Leicester City
Losing out on a talent like Kone would be underwhelming given Marti Cifuentes’ current striker options. Daka managed just one goal last season, whilst Jordan Ayew continues to age, and Jake Evans remains inexperienced. Furthermore, the Spanish manager has also made clear that he needs a centre-forward who can drop between the lines and link play.
Read More: How Marti Cifuentes Has Developed A Clear Identity After Just Three Friendlies
Kone offers a major upturn, with a low fee and high potential. He has been previously described as someone who “has got everything.“
He is physical and up to the task of occupying centre-halves, but also willing to get on the ball both back to goal and out wide. In front of the goal, he has been prolific, especially considering his lack of experience within the game.
Although it isn’t clear whether he is Championship-ready, taking League One by storm last season provides a positive indication.
With the Foxes needing to offload players before being active with incomings, they could miss out on a real star. The likes of Bilal El Khannouss, Wilfred Ndidi and Mads Hermansen remain targets for a plethora of clubs, and their departures will only help City’s pursuit of a new number nine.
