Sassuolo forward Domenico Berardi in action. (Getty Images)
According to a report by La Gazzetta dello Sport via Sport Witness (h/t Leicester Live), Leicester City are one of the clubs keeping an eye on Sassuolo winger, Domenico Berardi. The 26-year-old is also pursued by other Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur, and Liverpool. His club values him at around £43million.
The former Juventus man is making a good impression at UEFA Euros 2020 after a stellar season with Sassuolo in Serie A. While a couple of other English clubs are interested in signing the versatile forward, we look at why the Foxes should take the lead in the race and bring Domenico Berardi to the King Power Stadium.
The Foxes boast of a talented squad filled with the likes of Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho. However, the club does not have a lot of depth when it comes to wingers. Cengiz Under, the Turkish right-winger, is the only natural player down the right-hand side but his one-year loan from Serie A side AS Roma is coming to an end (h/t Leicester Live).
This leaves the Foxes short on players down the right side. The fact that the Foxes did not feel the absence of wingers this season was Brendan Rodgers’ 3-4-2-1 formation, which saw either full-backs or wide midfielders start down the flanks. Under only started one Premier League game during his stay.
Apart from that, there will be a need for wide midfielders. Another problem on the right-hand side apart from Cengiz Under’s departure is Marc Albrighton’s contract scenario. The 31-year-old is set to enter the last 12 months of his current deal. Moreover, Rodgers also plays a 4-2-3-1 at Leicester.
When that happens, he would need a wide midfielder along with a right-back to take up the positions down that wing. In that case, the Foxes could end up being short-handed. They also house just one natural left-sided midfielder in the talented Harvey Barnes. So a signing like Domenico Berardi makes complete sense.
The right-winger has spent the majority of his career playing down the right-hand side. He has also played on the left-wing and a few times down the middle. This shows his versatility.
Berardi is also not alien to scoring and assisting as he has racked up 31 goals and 18 assists in his last two Serie A seasons combined. Although numbers are not the reason for Leicester to get him it shows that the Italian forward is producing the goods for his current team. If the Foxes intend to qualify for the Champions League, they would have to strengthen various departments.
Strengthening the team and adding quality names could help Leicester improve their performances next season. And Berardi, at 26, is not a short-term solution. At his age, he can give several years of service to whichever club he plays for next season onwards.
