Leicester City have once again been linked with Fenerbahce midfielder Ozan Tufan.
According to Turkish outlet Ajansspor, the Foxes are still admirers of the 26-year-old having originally been credited with an interest in the summer of 2020 by Fotospor.
Despite the midfielder having drawn comparisons with former Manchester City dynamo Yaya Toure by former Fenerbahce Head Coach Vitor Fereira, he is simply not the type of player that Brendan Rodgers needs right now.
Do Leicester City need to sign another midfielder?
Yes, definitely!
No, they’re fine with what they have.
The Foxes are extremely well stocked in midfield positions at the King Power Stadium, especially in the box-to-box role that Tufan is so used to playing.
Youri Tielemans is currently in the midst of his joint-most productive season in the East-Midlands to date with eight goals and five assists in all competitions so seems undroppable at the current time. According to WhoScored, the former Monaco man is out-performing Tufan with more passes and key passes per game, more tackles and interceptions, whilst being dispossessed on far fewer occasions – and in a far stronger league.
Meanwhile, compatriot Dennis Praet is an extremely capable deputy in the position and Sidnei Tavares also has considerable promise.
Elsewhere, the likes of James Maddison and Ayoze Perez occupy the attacking midfield positions, whilst competition from Wilfred Ndidi, Nampalys Mendy and Hamza Choudhury mean that he is unlikely to find a starting berth in a somewhat more defensive role.
It all means that there is a real lack of space in the squad for Tufan.
Indeed, the 58-cap Turkish international would not want to follow compatriot Cengiz Under’s example of being starved of game time at the King Power Stadium. The on-loan Roma man has made just nine starts for the Foxes in all competitions this season and looks unlikely to stay beyond a solitary campaign.
Rated at just £8.55m and with just two years remaining on his current contract in Istanbul, his arrival would certainly not be the most expensive deal in the world but it is one that is simply not needed for the sake of Leicester’s squad or Tufan’s career.
It would certainly be a huge mistake in bringing him to the East-Midlands despite the club’s apparent long-vested interest.
AND in more news, take a look at which Leicester maestro has handed the Foxes a big injury boost ahead of this weekend’s meeting with Manchester City…