Leicester City Opinion: Foxes should sign Andre Almeida as Danny Simpson replacement
According to Leicestershire Live, Leicester City have reignited their interest in Benfica right-back Andre Almeida, who has also been linked with a move to Fulham ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.
Leicestershire Live also understands that Almeida has been on Leicester’s books for the last couple of years, with reports claiming that the Foxes, under the stewardship of Claude Puel, made an approach to sign the Portuguese international last year, only for Benfica to turn the move down.
Almeida, though, is not the only right-back to be linked with a move to the King Power Stadium, with the same source claiming that the Foxes also hold an interest in Olympiacos right-back Omar Elabdellaoui.
Leicester’s hunt for a new right-back comes as little surprise to the fans at the King Power Stadium, with veteran Danny Simpson out on contract in the summer. The Foxes signed Ricardo Pereira last summer to increase competition for places at right-back and the Portuguese international has established himself as an undisputed starter for the club in his first season in English football.
Pereira made himself look like a liability at the back earlier in the season but he has acclimatised to the highly competitive nature of the Premier League in due course of time and one would expect him to continue in that role next term as well.
Daniel Amartey is likely to be back in contention for the upcoming campaign but Leicester might as well avoid playing him at right-back and bring in a replacement for Simpson.
Suffice to say, Leicester would find themselves short of quality cover and competition at right-back after the departure of Simpson and a hugely experienced customer like Almeida is certainly good enough to keep Ricardo on his toes for a first-team role.
The 28-year-old, who has been capped on 8 occasions by Portugal at the senior international level, rose to prominence with Belenenses before completing a move to Benfica back in 2011.
Almeida is currently into his 8th season at Benfica and has won plenty of honours with the Portuguese giants, including 4 Primeira Liga titles and 2 Taca de Portugal crowns.
The 28-year-old was also an integral part of the Benfica side that reached the finals of the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League. Almeida has accumulated a total of 6 goals and 34 assists from 248 appearances for Benfica in all competitions till date.
The Portuguese international has been in fine form for Benfica in the Primeira Liga this season, contributing with 2 goals and 11 assists from 31 appearances.
Almeida might not fall in the bracket of a modern-day flying full-back but he is more than capable of contributing to the attack with his wonderful range of passing and high levels of footballing intelligence.
A calm and composed defender, who is noted for his game-reading abilities, Almeida is adept at reading the transitions in play and often succeeds in cutting out attacks with crucial tackles and interceptions.
To add to that, he is also very good in the air, which is certainly an additional asset to have for a full-back.
Although Leicester City have missed out on the Europa League qualification spot this season, the Foxes have shown plenty of promise in the Premier League, particularly since the arrival of Brendan Rodgers.
The former Liverpool manager has transformed the Foxes into one of the most feared forces outside the top-six but they need to bring in a few more high-profile players in the summer to build a squad capable of challenging for a European spot.
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Almeida certainly fits the bill given that he has tonnes of Europa League and Champions League experience under his belt. Hence, the Foxes have every reason to look at him as a potential transfer target in the summer and he would, undoubtedly, be a massive coup for them.
