The latest Leicester City news as the defender has been linked with a move to Belgium over the last couple of days.
Jannik Vestergaard is one of the players who wasn’t expected to still be at City by the time transfer deadline passed, let alone having played in every Championship game so far this season.
The defender has had somewhat of a turnaround in his City career under Enzo Maresca, but that has not stopped him being linked away with other windows around Europe coming to a close. The return of Conor Coady from injury, which is expected soon, should everything go to plan, could see the Dane lose his place in the starting XI.
He has performed well standing in for the summer signing following Coady’s injury during pre-season. He was a surprise inclusion in the line-up for the first game of the season vs Coventry City and has played every league game since.
But along with Coady’s return, plus Harry Souttar remaining at the club, could mean that City have a decision to make should a club come calling in the next few days. Vestergaard has just one year remaining on his contract at City, meaning that they risk losing him for nothing this time next year.
With that in mind, here is a look at what has been said over his future.
Anderlecht interest
Belgian side Anderlecht were said to be showing an interest in the City defender in the final days of their transfer window. Despite the window closing on September 1 in England, Belgium clubs have up until September 6 to conclude their business.
Reports in Belgium claimed that Vestergaard had emerged as an ‘option’ for the club, and that ‘talks’ had taken place with the player over a possible late move away from City. Any move could see him link up with former City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel who is expected to sign for Anderlecht on a free transfer.
Move ‘less likely’
More has now been added to the report, with journalist Sacha Tavolieri reporting that a move to Anderlecht is now ‘less likely’ for the defender. It is said that after holding talks, Vestergaard’s expectations on personal terms could not be met by the Belgian club.
What Vestergaard has said
Speaking just a few days before the English deadline , Vestergaard admitted his ‘shock’ at still being a Leicester City player and his turnaround at the club under Enzo Maresca. I honestly didn’t think a few months ago that I would be at Leicester now,” he told Ekstra Bladet .
“It was a shock for the club to be relegated and the most important thing is to get back into the Premier League straight away, so we have to play positive football to win all the time and that’s a perfect style of play for me.
“Our new manager (Maresca) has a positive style of play with much more possession and it suits my abilities as a distributor from the back. He has a clear philosophy, and much more work is now being done with tactics, which is one of my strengths.”
In an interview earlier in the summer the defender outlined his belief that he would move on from City this summer.
“Honestly, I’m going after the five big leagues, and I understand from my agent that there is good interest,” he told BT . “I have big sporting ambitions, and there is plenty of time left in the window, so I think it looks good.
“It has gone really well for me personally in the pre-season with our new manager. I have played in all test matches and am in really good shape after the small injury that kept me out of the last part of the season.
“I have a huge appetite for football, and it’s good to see and feel that the game is going well – and that it has just been some external circumstances that have meant that it hasn’t worked. But I firmly believe that the club and I agree that I can get away now.”
What Maresca has said
Speaking last month , Maresca praised the centre-back for his performances and outlined what he brings to the team. “He’s doing very well,” he said.
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