Leicester City Opinion: Foxes should move for Valentino Lazaro this summer
As reported by Italian source CalcioNapoli24, reliable journalist Raffaele Auriemma has told the Italian radio that Serie A giants Napoli and Premier League clubs Everton and Leicester City are keeping tabs on Hertha Berlin wideman Valentino Lazaro.
The same report claims that Hertha have set a €30million price tag on Lazaro but they are prepared to listen to offers around €25 million.
Lazaro helped Hertha make it to the Europa League with his stellar run of form last season and he has been a standout performer for his club in the Bundesliga this term as well, contributing with 2 goals and 5 assists from 24 appearances.
A youth product of Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg, Lazaro enjoyed a successful spell with his boyhood club, amassing 15 goals and 23 assists from 121 appearances in all competitions.
The 23-year-old has made the step up the Bundesliga successfully following his move to Hertha back in the summer of 2017. He racked up 2 goals and 5 assists last term and has already equalled that tally this season.
A fast, agile and technically-gifted footballer, Lazaro is noted for his versatility to play any role on the right-hand side of the pitch. While he is essentially a right-midfielder by trade, the Austrian international has also been used at right-back and further up the pitch as an out-and-out winger.
Such a trait of versatility is a quite rare and it is quite easy to understand why the likes of Leicester and Everton are keeping a close eye on him.
The Austrian is a pacy, hardworking and tenacious player who has the stamina to move up and down the pitch, contributing to the attack with his wonderful passing ability and accurate crossing, whilst also tracking back to cut out the attacks.
He has a good understanding of the game, and most importantly, his decision-making and awareness are also of the highest quality.
Lazaro has averaged 2 key passes, 1.5 crosses, 1.9 successful long balls, 1.7tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 2 clearances per game in the Bundesliga this term, figures which speak volumes of his ability as an utility player down the right.
To put things into perspective, Lazaro perfectly fits the bill at both Everton and Leicester but the Foxes would bag a massive coup if they manage to beat off competition from their mid-table rivals to sign the Austrian.
Leicester have shown signs of promise under new manager Brendan Rodgers after a life full of inconsistencies under Claude Puel and the Foxes should look to build a formidable squad for the upcoming season by bringing in some reinforcements in the summer.
While signing Youri Tielemans permanently and bringing in a suitable back up for Jamie Vardy should be high on Rodgers’ wishlist, the manager should also look to invest in options out wide on the right.
Ricardo Pereira looked a square peg in a round hole at right-back earlier in the season but the Portuguese has hit top gear after a slow start to life in the Premier League. However, Leicester still have plenty of problems down the right, with Rachid Ghezzal proving himself to be a flop.
Lazaro, with his versatility to play at right-back and further up the pitch as a winger, would not only provide cover and competition for Pereira but also push the likes of Ghezzal and Marcus Albrighton for a spot in the first-team.
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To sum it up, he has all the makings to being a useful utility player in the Premier League, and that said, Leicester should not hesitate to splash the cash to sign the 19-cap Austria international in the summer.
