How Leicester are enhancing their South American influence
Published:
Leicester City’s Premier League survival last season wasn’t solely built on Esteban Cambiasso’s shoulders.
Robert Huth’s defensive organisation, Jamie Vardy’s energy, Leonardo Ulloa’s goals and Riyad Mahrez’s pace all helped form the foundations, but it was the veteran Argentine that took the majority of plaudits.
With the former Inter Milan star deciding not to return to the King Power Stadium this term though, Claudio Ranieri has had to find a replacement central midfielder in the summer market.
As news emerges that the Italian tinkerer is readying an £11m bid for Chilean international Charles Aranguiz, it looks like the Foxes will soon forget the influence Cambiasso had on them.
Aranguiz, who played a pivotal role in helping his country reach the 2014 World Cup last 16, then win the 2015 Copa America on home soil, is the perfect progression from the 34-year-old.
Cambiasso’s experience was vital to the Leicester cause last season, as many of his teammates battled it out in the English top flight for the first time.
But now they all have one season under their belts, replacing his ageing legs with a younger model is a wise move.
Not only will Aranguiz, a 26-year-old, provide Leicester with greater energy in the middle of the park, but he should have no trouble matching the five goals Cambiasso chipped in with last term.
The Santiago native has scored 11 times in 55 games for Internacional to date, having bagged 20 in 95 for Universidad de Chile prior to that.
Both of those stints provide Aranguiz with a healthy scoring record for a midfielder and, if he can quickly adapt to the English game, his arrival should help Leicester achieve their 1/4 odds to stay up.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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