Leicester City in transfer race to sign 23-year-old Ghanian defender- Should Rodgers pursue with a deal?

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Varun Pai

Leicester City weighing up move for Vitoria Guimaraes ace Abdul Mumin

According to journalist Ekrem Konur (h/t ESPN), Leicester City are one of three clubs interested in signing Vitoria Guimaraes ace Abdul Mumin. The centre-back has been integral to the Primera Liga side this season and has become a mainstay in their backline.

A product of the Right to Dream academy, the young Ghanian joined Danish side Nordsjaelland as a 19-year-old. After moving up the ranks and making 47 appearances for the senior team, Vitoria Guimaraes snapped him up in the summer of 2020. He has since arguably been their best defender and is oozing with potential with every coming game.

Could the defender now depart the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques? And should Brendan Rodgers sign the 23-year-old?

Leicester City need surgery at the back

Since joining from Nordsjaelland, Mumin has made 44 appearances for Guimaraes. This season, they are a couple spots below the Top 6 but have only conceded 2 more goals than 3rd placed Benfica, with the centre-back playing a key role in doing so.

Leicester City are interested in signing Guimaraes ace Abdul Mumin (R).
Leicester City are interested in signing Guimaraes ace Abdul Mumin (R). (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP) (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

Leicester are now interested in luring him to England. The Foxes have had two incredible seasons under Rodgers, as they have narrowly missed out on Champions League football. They have slightly fallen off the pace this season, as they are 10th in the table nearly halfway through the campaign. 

Their defence, in particular, has been an area of concern. Currently, Leicester have the 5th worst defence in the league, with only Leeds United, Watford, and relegation duo Newcastle United and Norwich City conceding more than them. The injuries to Wesley Fofana and Caglar Soyuncu have not helped, nor has the lacklustre summer signing Jannik Vestergaard.

Moreover, both Fofana and Soyuncu have been linked with a move away from the King Power, according to French outlet But! Football Club (h/t The Express). Even if one of them departs, it creates a hole in the defence. Additionally, Jonny Evans only has 18 months left on his deal as is the case for Daniel Amartey. 

Thus, in such a scenario, signing a 23-year-old Mumin could be a good alternative. The Foxes have often identified the best talents, and had the tactical nous to fit them into the club. The Guimaraes ace could be a similar fit and might be able to inject freshness into the squad while also acting as a mainstay for years to come.

Leicester City will have to beat the competition to sign Abdul Mumin

The 23-year-old defensive star has been brilliant for the Portuguese side this season and has gone from strength to strength. However, a move could be on the cards, with a trio of clubs keen on his signature. Leicester, as mentioned, are one of them, while Premier League rivals Newcastle and Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais are the other two sides.

Newcastle United and Lyon are also interested in signing Vitoria Guimaraes ace Abdul Mumin.
Newcastle United and Lyon are also interested in signing Vitoria Guimaraes ace Abdul Mumin (Centre). (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)

Thus, it will take some doing to land the player’s services. However, the Foxes could promise the prospect of European football. They have been competing in the Europa League in the last couple of seasons. The King Power outfit could clinch a spot in the competition if they win the FA Cup or secure a 5th place spot, which is only 9 points away, while they also have a game in hand.

Moreover, the Midlands club, like all other teams, will often have concerns regarding injury and players leaving. Wilfried Ndidi has deputized in the backline, but he is clearly an excellent defensive midfielder and should rather be used there to add steel to his team in the middle of the pitch. Moreover, in the past five years, they have turned quick profits from their prized assets and have invested well. We don’t have to look beyond Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante as two examples.

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Mumin is an exciting prospect, but not a lot can be made from a player that is yet to play in the Champions League or has no experience of playing in England. Rodgers has often made things work with unknown talents, and the Ghanian could be yet another similar addition. The Foxes need to tighten up at the back, and signing the Guimaraes starlet could only help that case.