Leicester City have had a pretty topsy-turvy season so far as they’ve won four and lost three in seven games. Though the approach hasn’t necessarily been all or nothing, as Claude Puel is a pretty pragmatic manager, the results have been like that.
Leicester did well in the summer transfer window and the signing who has impressed the most so far is James Maddison. Known for their keen eye for scouting, Leicester have been linked with another talented player.
Dennis Praet has been linked with a move to Leicester according to reports by Calciomercato. The Belgian is also being eyed by Puel’s former club Southampton. The report further states that Praet has a release clause of €26 million, not that steep a fee for a top half Premier League club.
Dennis Praet – Fact file
Praet broke into the first team in the 2012-13 season at Anderlecht and since then, his progress has been pretty impressive. Of course, because of the talented players Belgium have at the moment, it hasn’t been possible for Praet to make a similar set up with the Belgium national team.
After three seasons with Anderlecht, Praet made the move to Sampdoria in 2016. His first season there was about adapting as he made 19 starts and 13 substitute appearances. Last season, though, he was a more of a regular starter, as he made 31 starts.
What will Dennis Praet add to Leicester City?
Praet mostly played in a central midfield role but his ability to break forward is something that makes him stand out. Like a lot of the modern-day players from Belgium, he is technically gifted and pretty good on the ball.
Despite all his abilities on the ball, though, his defensive awareness and work rate are reasons why he has been deployed in a central midfield role. Praet averaged 2.7 tackles and 1.2 interceptions a game, so the lad can put in a tackle or two when needed.
Puel, of course, likes that little bit of stability in midfield and when compared to the current crop of central midfielders Leicester have, Praet will add that extra quality and vision from midfield.
For his age – 24 – a fee of €26 million would be a pretty value for money deal as Praet has done well in the last few years and is ready to move to the Premier League.
Stats via Whoscored