Leicester City Set To Match £16 Million Price Tag This January

According to rumors in Brazil, Leicester City is keeping a close eye on Sao Paulo defender Lucas Beraldo this January and will match the club’s £16 million asking price.

The Foxes are now top of the second division going into the hectic Christmas break, 10 points ahead of Leeds United in third place, and they have a game against Birmingham City tonight. The team has had a great start to life back in the Championship.

Thus far, Enzo Maresca has done a fantastic job with the former Premier League winners, keeping many of the team’s important players over the summer, including Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ricardo Pereira, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and others.

Though there is still a lot of football left to play, Leicester City has focused on the January transfer window in an effort to bolster their squad and aid in their quest for an expeditious return to the top division.

Sao Paulo center back Lucas Beraldo is one name being mentioned as a potential transfer to the King Power Stadium. Leicester may outbid Zenit Saint Petersburg of Russia in the hunt to recruit the defender this winter, according to UOL.

According to the outlet via Sport Witness, Zenit has made a bid of £14 million, but the Brazilian team is holding out for £15.8 million, which Leicester is willing to match in order to win the transfer.

When the transfer market opens in a few weeks, the English team will permit Australia international center-back Harry Souttar to leave, and Beraldo might be the ideal replacement.

Author’s Perspective

Having recently signed a new five-year contract with the three-time Copa Libertadores champions, it has already been stated that Beraldo presently has a £52 million release clause in his contract. However, it appears that Sao Paulo are willing to accept £36 million less than that amount.

But, Zenit has added a few Brazilians in recent seasons, notably Malcolm, an ex-star of Barcelona, and Robert Renan, a highly regarded young defender and Beraldo’s international partner. These additions may have some influence over the situation.