According to FC Inter News, Leicester City have made contact with Roberto Gagliardini’s agent, joining Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest in their pursuit of the Inter Milan and Serie A-winning midfielder.
The £20 million Italy international recently admitted to being dissatisfied with his backseat role at the San Siro. Things have only gotten worse since then. Gagliardini has appeared in just seven minutes of Inter’s last four Serie A games.
He didn’t even come off the bench in FC Porto’s 1-0 Champions League last-16 first-leg victory.
So, if Gagliardini was undecided about signing a new contract with the Nerazzuri, his continued lack of playing time since the January window closed may have only served to confirm his decision.
According to FC Inter News, Leicester is ‘testing the waters’ with agent Beppe Riso. As is a Galatasaray side that recently signed another out-of-favour Italian from a Serie A giant, Nicolo Zaniolo, who arrived after a typically public spat with Jose Mourinho at Roma.
Nottingham Forest, Leicester’s big-spending Midland neighbors, are also fans of a player who rose through the ranks at Atalanta under Gian Piero Gasperini before joining Inter Milan for £20 million in 2017.
Last month, Forest signed Jonjo Shelvey and Danilo. Few would be surprised to see Gagliardini in Garibaldi red as well, thanks to Steve Cooper’s’more the merrier’ approach to squad-building.
“I am no longer prepared to play so little,” the 28-year-old Bergamo native tells Sky Italia. “Because I still feel that I am in good shape and have a lot more to give. I want to play and demonstrate my abilities.
“Let’s wait and see what happens in June” (when my deal runs out). “I’ll make my own decisions.”
Meanwhile, Leicester may see Gagliardini as a potential replacement for Youri Tielemans. The Belgian playmaker’s contract expires in the summer, and an extension appears unlikely. Leicester is also interested in Borussia Dortmund schemer Mo Dahoud.
Dahoud will also be a free agent in July.
“I would not and could not say anything negative about Mo Dahoud,” BVB coach Edin Terzic says, lavishing praise on his rarely seen Germany international. “Mo is a wonderful person. “A fantastic footballer with exceptional skills.”
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