Why Leicester City must plot a summer swoop for Callum McGregor
According to the Scottish Sun, Leicester City are set to make a £25million bid to sign Callum McGregor from Celtic in the summer.
Callum McGregor, 26, who has come through the ranks at Celtic, has made over 250 appearances for the Scottish club. He played a pivotal role in Celtic’s treble ‘Treble’ achievement under Brendan Rodgers. The Scotsman has already made 48 appearances for the Hoops so far this season, scoring 11 goals and assisting 10 times.
Rodgers tried to reunite with McGregor at the King Power last summer but failed in doing so. However, the report adds that the Northern Irish tactician is keen on making his second attempt to lure the Scotsman to the Premier League.
The Foxes have enjoyed a solid 2019/20 Premier League season under Rodgers. They have been a thrilling, attacking side that has scored 54 goals in 28 league games. The attacking players, especially the likes of Jamie Vardy, Ayoze Perez, James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans have linked up superbly and smashed teams in the top-flight.
Leicester are in a poor run of form, having won just once in their last five games. Yet, they are third in the table and in the reckoning to finish in the top four. Jamie Vardy has arguably been Leicester’s best player, with 17 goals and four assists to his name in 25 league appearances. James Maddison has also mightily impressed, contributing with six goals and three assists in 27 appearances.
Maddison’s performances haven’t gone unnoticed, with Manchester United keen to sign him in the summer. The Scottish Sun claims that the Red Devils could make a mammoth £80m bid for the English midfielder. Regardless of what happens with Maddison, Rodgers is keen to bring in Callum McGregor at the King Power Stadium.
McGregor has been a very consistent player for Celtic over the last few seasons and Rodgers knows him inside out from his time at Parkhead.
In the last two seasons combined, he has supplied with 18 goals and 24 assists in 115 appearances across all competitions. That’s a healthy return from a midfielder’s point of view, with the Scotland international also racking up 11 goals and 10 assists so far this season under Neil Lennon.
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The 26-year-old’s contributions has helped the Hoops open up a 12-point lead in the Scottish Premiership. McGregor is just 26 and deserves a step-up in his career, having won everything domestically he could at Celtic.
Not to forget, the Scotsman is highly versatile and capable of playing in any position in the midfield and even on the flanks. He has been used at left-back as well.
Verdict
An experienced player with a winning mentality, McGregor would add quality as well as depth to the Foxes’ ranks. Thus, Leicester must not think twice about recruiting the Celtic midfielder in the summer.
