€35m midfielder’s rapid exit may confirm secret Leicester deal conspiracy theories
The idea that Chelsea might be interested in selling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in January seems ridiculous – they only just bought him in the summer, and he’s barely had a sniff since.
That’s despite having come from new manager Enzo Maresca’s old team Leicester. Most expected him to be a regular right away because of his familiarity with the methods and tactics of the Italian coach – instead he’s barely featured, and has even struggled to get into the B team used in the cups and Conference League this season.
Strange purchase and an even stranger sale point to truth in “package deal” theories
Chelsea – and especially the manager – knew exactly what they were getting for their €35m in the summer, and yet have never shown the slightest interest in using him. It’s not like he’s had a first team shot and failed -he’s just never had a sniff.
The whole thing is rather suspicious, and potentially confirms the theory that the signing was only ever a way to allow us to secure Maresca. We’re not sure exactly how the logic works, given we had to buy out the coach’s contract from Leicester anyway. But it seems the idea was that we had to buy the player as part of the package, which of course helps the Foxes’ PSR numbers.
Leicester City transfer latest with King Power gem set for £11m move as Brighton links re-emerge
Latest Leicester City transfer news as talented OH Leuven teenager Ezechiel Banzuzi gets set for a club-record switch while Jakub Moder is back on King Power agenda
It might be expected that when the smaller of two clubs with shared owners has a gem of a player in their ranks, that they would be sold to their sister side. It happened in the summer when Savinho joined Manchester City from Troyes, having been on loan at Girona, with all three clubs under the same ownership.
But it does not look like it will happen with King Power clubs this month. Leicester City had been linked to OH Leuven’s promising Dutch youth international midfielder Ezechiel Banzuzi at the end of last year, but it looks like they’re now out of the picture. Monaco are the heavy favourites to sign the 19-year-old.
A physically-imposing, forward-thinking midfielder, Banzuzi has two goals and five assists in all competitions for Leuven this season, and has shown excellent qualities in ball-carrying and in aerial battles. Given his age, his progress this season has not gone unnoticed.
According to reports from the Netherlands, Monaco are leading the race for Banzuzi, with a fee likely to be around €13m (£10.8m), which would be a record sale for Leuven. There’s suggestions the Belgian club may request to take the teenager back on loan until the end of the campaign.
