TFW Transfer Targets: 3 right wingers Leicester City should be scouting
After Neil Lennon left Leicester City in October 2000, it was years - perhaps decades - until he was properly replaced at the base of the midfield. It’s been a similar situation with the right side of midfield since Riyad Mahrez departed four and a half years ago.
We might not ever sign a right winger again but, just in case, Alex Malpass has some suggestions for the recruitment team.
Victor Tsygankov
Club: Dynamo Kyiv
Age: 24 years old
Don't worry, there are other countries that have quality right wingers but Tsygankov has been one of my favourite players in the last 5 years and prior to the pandemic it was unthinkable that 3 years on he'd still be in Ukraine.
He was destined for a move to a top 5 European League and he has both the domestic, European and international pedigree deserving of a move. The ongoing war in Ukraine and his contract ending in the summer of 2023 make him even more of a no-brainer, especially if you consider Leicester don't have infinite funds for the 2-3 new players we need this January and more come the summer.
2022/23 is business as usual for Tsygankov. In 17 appearances in the league, Champions League qualifying and Europa League, he has 5 goals and 4 assists but fixtures are obviously played in difficult circumstances right now. Last season before the war broke out, he got 11 goals and 4 assists in 25 games and the season before it was 15 goals and 9 assists in 34.
He is strong, quick and skilful, operating predominantly from the right wing and cutting in onto his bull hammer of a left foot, and would rival Maddison for set piece duty. Most interestingly, he has that talismanic aura about him which is something our club has lacked across the squad but which has been seen in Wout Faes and more of the same would be welcome.
8/10
Ludovic Blas
Club: Nantes
Age: 24 years old
Like Tsygankov, I've absolutely no idea how Blas is still at Nantes. Last season and the season before he was electric, scoring 10+ goals in both and was all set for a move last summer after helping them qualify for Europe.
That didn't transpire and it's affecting him. His output is dipping (in the league anyway - in Europe he's still doing well) but it's understandable.
This lad has it all, his dribbling stats are off the charts and he's not a traditional winger, which may suit Rodgers’ style perfectly. Blas is a creative playmaker that plays out wide or in behind the strikers. As he's left footed, that would work extremely well in our team and free Maddison up to move more centrally or interchange with him.
His contract is up in 18 months and given Nantes wanted €20m last summer, he'd be a shrewd purchase for even less this January or beyond.
8/10
Samuel Iling-Junior
Club: Juventus
Age: 19 years old
This might seem like a wild card punt but I've been keeping my eye on Iling-Junior for a while now as he left Chelsea academy at 16 (like many young players have) to join Juventus a few years back.
He's a left-footed versatile attacker but plays pretty much anywhere from wing back, out wide, behind the strikers or up top himself. He's physically strong, quick and has a good range of creativity and ability to score.
Iling-Junior has been far too good in the Primavera (U19) league and UEFA Youth League - so much so that Allegri has given him a few appearances in Serie A and the Champions League and he already has 2 assists across both competitions.
All of this would suggest we've no chance of getting him but his contract is up this summer and he may well want to move back to England. We could offer him a clear run at a starting role on the right wing and as far as potential goes, he's possibly the best pick of the lot.
8.5/10
