Leicester city is on the verge of completing their Sporting Lisbon raid as they agree a whooping £38.5 million fee for Adrien Silva. The Sporting Lisbon captain is expected to leave the Primeira Liga and join the Foxes as he eyes the Premier League football this season onwards.
The deal will serve as a major boost for the Premier League defending champions as they look to fill in the midfield voids. Earlier today, they reportedly agreed to a deal to sign Algerian striker Islam Slimani in a £30 million fee involving the same club. The Foxes now seems to have completed their squad reinforcement process with these two major signings on the deadline day.
Also read: Deadline Day Live Transfer Blog: EPL, La Liga and Rest of Europe Follow deadline day live with all the latest transfers and rumours right here!
Leicester City needed a quality squad as they are in the UEFA Champions League this season. Though they lost N'Golo Kante to Chelsea, manager Claudio Ranieri has done remarkably well to hold on to Arsenal target Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy. With these two club record signings, the squad might just be potent enough to compete in their upcoming Champions League.
The 27-year-old Portuguese ace has been in the club since he was 12 years old and now fancies himself well enough to try out a fresh challenge in his football career. Though there were conflicting situations between the player and the club management the player is finally on the move. Expressing the situation he said:
“Yes, I confirm this proposal. Leicester is very interesting and corresponds to my career goals.”
“After the past 15 years at Sporting, this opportunity is something exceptional for me and can allow me to express and impose myself in another championship, and also to evolve in the Premier League, which is a stunning league.”
“I love Sporting as a family and I dedicated myself to the club since I was 12 years old.”
“With Sporting I lived many moments of happiness. I can say that I grew up with the club. At 27 years old, and after so many years of loyalty, I think that no one will criticize me for wanting to embrace this challenge.”
Having made around 140 appearances, Silva will bring with him the much-needed experience and calmness in the Leicester midfield. The midfielder had a decent EURO 2016 campaign and was instrumental in Portugal’s EURO title.
