Besiktas opens the door for Champions League winner to join Leicester City by signing Ansu Fati
Besiktas opens the door for Champions League winner to join Leicester City by signing Ansu Fati
Leicester City’s tails are up after securing a comeback 2-1 win over Tottenham on
Sunday to climb out of the relegation zone.
It handed a much-needed boost to Ruud van Nistelrooy,
who previously oversaw a seven-match losing run as Leicester manager.
Van Nistelrooy will now hope to build on that result and performance against Everton on Saturday,
but first, the Dutchman will be shopping in the January transfer window.
The 48-year-old arrived at Leicester intending to improve four key positions,
most notably a new full-back, a left-sided centre-half, a winger and a forward.
The first of those was ticked off when the Foxes captured right-back Woyo Coulibaly from
Parma on a 4.5-year deal.
Coulibaly remains the only player to arrive at the King Power Stadium this month but supporters can
expect further additions in the final week.
Besiktas signing Ansu Fati could see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain arrive at Leicester
Leicester have been linked with signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Besiktas.
The 31-year-old, who can operate as a midfielder or on the wing,
has played 36 times for the Turkish giants since joining from Liverpool in 2023.
Oxlade-Chamberlain made 146 appearances during his six years with Liverpool,
winning the Premier League and Champions League in that time.
Links to the Englishman will have divided the Leicester fanbase,
who will perhaps feel other positions take more priority,
but the door now could be open for Van Nistelrooy to sign him.
According to Turkish outlet FotoMac, Besiktas are interested in a move for talented Barcelona forward
Ansu Fati on loan with an option to buy in the summer.
Fati’s potential move to Besiktas could move Oxlade-Chamberlain out of the door,
with the former Arsenal star pushing for a return to the Premier League.
What Jurgen Klopp has said about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Oxlade-Chamberlain isn’t known for having the greatest injury record,
suffering several blows during his time at the Gunners and at Anfield.
However, despite all the setbacks he experienced in England,
he was rated highly by former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp,
who labelled him an ‘absolutely outstanding’ player.
Speaking in 2019 after the midfielder signed a new contract, Klopp said via Liverpool’s official website:
“When I heard Ox had signed his new contract with us,
I am sure my emotions were the same as every Liverpool fan hearing the news tonight – absolutely delighted.
“This is because an absolutely outstanding player and person has shown his belief and
commitment to our project here and it’s a deal I think makes sense on both sides.
“I think Ox has said himself it feels to him like he has been here a lot longer than he has and
that is something I would agree with. I think that’s down to his personality around the place here at Melwood.
“I have said in the past, that one of the best things about him is what an outstanding human being he is,
one of the nicest guys you will meet. Of course, he is also an outstandingly talented footballer, too.”
A glowing endorsement from one of the greatest managers of all time shows how crucial he was during some stages of his Liverpool career, and Leicester supporters will hope for similar admiration if he signs.
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