LEICESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: Mads Hermansen of Leicester City celebrates victory after the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and West Ham United FC at The King Power Stadium on December 03, 2024 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Ruud van Nistelrooy now wants ‘magic’ Premier League ace who’s like Leicester’s Facundo Buonanotte.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is gearing up for his first January transfer window at Leicester City and rumours are already circulating the King Power Stadium.
Leicester City are currently two points above the Premier League’s relegation zone ahead of their six-pointer against Wolves on Sunday.
The Foxes will be eyeing three points in that fixture while van Nistelrooy is looking towards the January transfer window.
A new defender is being targeted after conceding the third most goals in the league, with Leicester eyeing a move for Atalanta’s Ben Godfrey.
Meanwhile, a blow has been dealt in their pursuit of an attacking midfielder, with Watford unwilling to sell Leicester target Giorgi Chakvetadze.
That being said, the talented Georgian isn’t the only player on their radar as the Foxes eye a talent from the Premier League.
Leicester City want a loan move for Newcastle winger Miguel Almiron
According to The Sun, Newcastle are willing to loan out winger Miguel Almiron to a top-flight side in the January transfer window.
The report claims Crystal Palace, Wolves and Leicester are all ‘monitoring’ the Paraguayan outcast who has amassed just nine appearances in all competitions this term.
Leicester could be in the market for a new winger after Abdul Fatawu suffered a season-ending injury however, a move for Almiron would be complicated.
Crystal Palace would have to recall Odsonne Edouard for a deal to be possible as the French striker and Facundo Buonanotte are the Foxes’ two Premier Leagues.
Almiron, who has been likened to Buonanotte according to FBref data, isn’t the type of game-changing winger capable of helping van Nistelrooy’s men survive.
Leicester should avoid signing Almiron at all costs
Whilst Almiron has previously been dubbed as ‘magic’, the 30-year-old hasn’t produced much quality since his purple patch in the 2022/23 campaign when he scored 11 Premier League goals.
As delineated by the above table, the fleet-footed winger has never been prolific in the final third, only amassing 42 goal involvements in 218 appearances.
For Leicester to clinch their place in the top flight for another campaign, they’re going to need someone better than Almiron to come in.
The Newcastle gem ranks in the bottom 19% of wingers across Europe for progressive passes in the past year, the bottom 22% for progressive carries, and the bottom 26% for successful take-ons.
Realistically, such data doesn’t make Almiron an attractive proposition and he’s arguably not a better option than Kasey McAteer, who has been criticised by Leicester fans.
