Why Leicester City should push ahead with their interest in Jannik Vestergaard
According to The Times and Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet (h/t Leicestershire Live), Southampton defender Jannik Vestergaard remains a transfer target for Leicester City.
The report also claims that back in January, the Foxes were willing to pay around £26million for the tall centre-back. However, manager Ralph Hasenhuttl blocked the move, with the Dane staying put at St Mary’s.
Vestergaard has endured a difficult campaign this season with the Saints, having featured just 14 times for them in the league. The Danish defender has been in and out of the team this term. This indicates that he is clearly not one of manager Hasenhuttl’s favourites in the side.
An obvious starter early in the season, Vestergaard lost his place in the line-up following a series of defeats that saw Southampton slip to the relegation zone. As the season progressed, Vestergaard has fallen behind the likes of Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens. He has spent most of the time warming the benches during the second half of the season.
The Dane has so far played 42 times for Southampton following a move from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2018. Though Vestergaard has found it difficult to adjust to his new surroundings in England. He was a star performer in Germany for former sides Monchengladbach, Werder Bremen, and Hoffenheim.
A veteran of 185 Bundesliga appearances, the 27-year-old was a regular in the Monchengladbach back-line, featuring 83 times for them in total. In fact, it was his consistent and rock-solid displays at Monchengladbach that earned him a move to St. Mary’s.
Vestergaard can offer Leicester City a secure future
Meanwhile, Leicester City are still in the hunt for the out of favour Southampton centre-back, who still has two years left on his contract at the English south coast club. Brendan Rodgers’ City, on the other hand, have enjoyed a successful league campaign so far this season and are currently third in the league table.
Rodgers owes it all to his side’s defensive partnership involving veteran Jonny Evans and Turk Caglar Soyuncu, who have done a stellar job at the back for the Foxes.
Leicester have the 3rd-best defensive record in the league this season, having conceded just 28 from 29 league games. However, they lack depth in the department which could prove to be a major concern for the side ahead of next season.
Apart from Evans and Soyuncu, the Foxes just have captain Wes Morgan and youngster Filip Benkovic in their ranks. However, Morgan is just a back-up and is already 36, while Benkovic has not yet impressed manager Rodgers.
Main man Evans turned 32 last January, meaning the side are clearly in need of an established centre-back if they wish to stay at the top in the longer run.
Hence, Leicester’s interest in Vestergaard makes complete sense. The club should land him soon at the King Power Stadium if they wish to have a secure future.
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Verdict
Vestergaard’s arrival will only make Leicester stronger next season. It will also offer manager Rodgers an extra option at the back. Moreover, being on the sidelines may have frustrated Vestergaard, who now will be eager to prove a point. This, in turn, will be beneficial for City and a move for him seems like the right decision.
