Leicester City Opinion: Why Baston would be a solid addition to the Foxes?

According to a report from the Leicester Mercury, Leicester City are interested in signing Lazio defender Bastos.

Bastos, 27, joined Lazio from Russian Premier League club FC Rostov in 2016. He managed just 18 Serie A appearances for Lazio last season, seven of which came from the bench.

The Italian club aren’t desperate to sell the Angolan defender but the report adds that an offer in the region of £13.5 million could tempt them to part with the 27-year-old, who has also attracted interest from Watford.

The Foxes face a battle to keep hold of their star defender Harry Maguire this summer.

The England international has been heavily linked with a switch to Manchester United, who are in dire need of defensive reinforcements after conceding over 50 goals in the Premier League last term.

The two clubs are yet to agree on a fee as Leicester continue to insist they will sell at their valuation, which is about £85m, the Sun claims.

Maguire is keen to force through a move to the Red Devils as he wants to be a part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s rebuild at Old Trafford.

That should force Brendan Rodgers to plan for the potential departure of the English centre-half, even though he already has plenty of defensive options including, Jonny Evans, Caglar Soyuncu, Wes Morgan and Filip Benkovic.

Bastos could be that potential successor for Maguire. The Angolan may not have had a great last campaign with Lazio but he shares a few similar attributes with Maguire.

The 27-year-old is composed in possession and can maraud forward with the ball at his feet before making a smart pass. He is a quick and agile defender, who can cover a lot of ground when left isolated at the back.

The former FC Rostov man can also make vital interceptions for his side as he can win a lot of 50-50 challenges inside his own half. He is a defensive powerhouse, who commands his penalty area with authority and conviction.

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Hence, signing Bastos could help Leicester compete on all fronts in the upcoming campaign as he will undeniably improve the overall quality of Brendan Rodgers’ squad.

Verdict

Maguire’s departure would leave a huge gap in Leicester’s defensive ranks, which Rodgers should fill in with the acquisition of Bastos. At £13.5 million, the Angolan international would represent a bargain deal for the Foxes, whose aim will be to break into the top six next term.