Leicester City close in on Italian defender as £13m transfer update issued

Leicester City close in on Italian defender as £13m transfer update issued

According to Italian media, Leicester City are nearing a deal to sign Atalanta centre-back Caleb Okoli.

City are thought to have agreed to pay €15 million (£12.7 million) for the 22-year-old defender.

While a deal for Abdul Fatawu is nearing completion, Okoli is expected to become City’s first new senior signing this summer.

The former Italy Under-21 international spent the season on loan at Serie A club Frosinone, where he played 34 games as they finished 18th and were relegated.

However, Okoli’s reputation does not appear to have suffered as a result of his relegation to Serie B.

The 22-year-old came through Atalanta’s junior systems, but after a few seasons on loan,

he’s only made 17 professional appearances for the club. Before a year at Frosinone, he also spent time with SPAL and Cremonese.

His arrival at City would lend credence to the theory that new manager Steve Cooper will field a defensive five,

with three centre-backs and two wing-backs. Okoli would join Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard, Conor Coady, Ben Nelson, and Harry Souttar in the team,

providing Cooper a lot of alternatives in the defence.

While Okoli is right-footed, like City’s present centre-back options,

he frequently played on the left of the back three when Frosinone used that formation in select games last season.

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