Leicester opinion: Should Leicester sign Breel Embolo?

After just two victories since the start of the year, Leicester City sacked Claude Puel and appointed former Liverpool and Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers as their new manager. Rodgers’ first game on the touchline resulted in a 2-1 defeat away from home against Watford.

Jamie Vardy scored the only goal for Leicester and substitute Kelechi Iheanacho failed to make any reasonable contribution after coming off the bench. Fellow striker Shinji Okazaki has failed to be of any productive help for the Foxes and Rodgers needs to address this issue in the summer.

Breel Embolo was touted to be the next big thing in world football after his move from Basel to Schalke in the summer of 2016. Although the Swiss youngster hasn’t been very effective for the Royal Blues, he is a gamble that Brendan Rodgers should be willing to take in the summer.

After signing for Schalke, Embolo made his debut against Villingen in the DFB-Pokal and scored in a 4-1 away win. Over 3 months later, the Swiss forward suffered a serious ankle and knee injury that ruled him out of action for almost a year.

Following his return from injury at the start of the 2017/18 campaign, he started 9 games all season and came off the bench 12 times in the Bundesliga. The former Basel man fractured his foot in November last year and is close to returning to first-team action.

Embolo has failed to fulfill his potential at Gelsenkirchen in terms of goals and assists but is still an incredible talent.

The 22-year-old’s scary combination of pace and power is a nightmare for any defender who is up against him. His ability to bring the ball down and then use his close control and agility to turn around and get away from his marker with ease is quite remarkable.

His off-the-ball movement is fantastic and his rare ability to always be in the right place at the right time makes him a must-have in the team.

The ability to create space for the runners around him is one of the most important traits a forward should possess in the modern game and Embolo has proven that time and again.

The Swiss centre-forward’s ice-cool composure in front of goal during his time with Basel made him a star but has failed to deliver the same calmness since his move to the Bundesliga.

His fitness has been a massive concern, having fractured 4 bones already in less than three years.

Conclusion

Although his goal record isn’t any different from the likes of Iheanacho and Okazaki, Embolo’s attacking numbers are far superior. His end product has let him down a lot recently but he has the potential to deliver.

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Embolo is, in all fairness, a massive gamble but under the right management, it is a gamble that might pay big rewards and Leicester should take a chance on him in the summer.