City making £15 million bid for Danish defender
TALKS UNDER WAY TO SIGN VESTERGAARD FROM SOUTHAMPTON
LEICESTER City are hoping to conclude a deal for Southampton defender Jannik Vestergaard with the clubs now deep in talks.
City have had to go into the market for a new centre-back following Wesley Fofana’s leg break last week, and have turned their attention to the Saints man.
The club first showed interest in Vestergaard in January 2020, but a deal could not be worked out.
Now, with less than a year remaining on the Denmark international’s contract at Southampton, the Mercury understands City are again in talks to bring him to the King Power Stadium, submitting an offer that is shy of £15 million.
Dominant in the air and comfortable passing out from the back, Vestergaard ticks a few of City’s boxes, particularly with Jonny Evans also on the sidelines at least until mid-September with a foot problem.
The 29-year-old Dane has plenty of Premier League experience, first arriving at St Mary’s from Borussia Monchengladbach three years ago.
Settling in should not be a problem either, having played plenty of times alongside Kasper Schmeichel at international level - Vestergaard was in the Denmark squad that reached the Euro 2020 semi-finals - as well as alongside new City signing Ryan Bertrand, the left-back joining on a free transfer from the Saints last month.
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl hinted that they would be open to Vestergaard leaving while speaking at a fans’ forum on Tuesday night.
He said: “We have to look at what is best for him. It’s not ideal when a player enters the final year of his contract.
“He is fantastic, he has done a fantastic job and he has had a very good Euros. He either extends his contract or, when there is an offer perhaps from a big club, we decide what to do.”
Because of Vestergaard’s participation at the Euros, he has not yet featured in pre-season.
So even if he was to arrive before the Premier League opener against Wolves on Saturday, Daniel Amartey is expected to continue next to Caglar Soyuncu for now.