Leicester City are showing interest in a budget signing who is impressing with his performances at Euro 2024.
Despite winning the Championship last season, it has been a challenging few weeks for Leicester City.
The club have had to deal with the departure of their promotion-winning manager Enzo Maresca, who left to takeover at Chelsea, whilst financial woes threaten to damage their Premier League survival bid before it has even begun.
The club’s efforts to comply with PSR and avoid any subsequent punishment could see them have to sell star player and boyhood Leicester fan Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall this summer in what would be a real blow.
However, it is not all doom and gloom and new manager Steve Cooper could be boosted by the addition of Slovenia midfielder Timi Max Elsnik.
Leicester City ‘showing an interest’ in Slovenia’s Timi Max Elsnik
Even if they do manage to keep Dewsbury-Hall – which is looking increasingly difficult amid interest from Chelsea – Leicester will need additions to their squad this summer.
The problem is, they are unlikely to have much money to do so.
With that in mind, it the club are now reported to be interested in a budget move for a player who has impressed in this summer’s Euros so far in Elsnik.
That is according to the Daily Mail, who are reporting that Leicester are ‘showing an interest’ in the 26-year-old Slovenia midfielder who should be available for just £5.5 million this summer.
Elsnik started his career at Derby County but currently plays for Olympia Ljubljana in his homeland.
The report claims Leicester are not alone in their admiration for Elsnik, though, with fellow Premier League new boys Southampton also keen, as well as Lyon and Lazio.
Leicester target Elsnik a standout performer against England in Euros draw
English football fans will have already had their first sighting of Elsnik, given he was a key part of Slovenia’s 0-0 draw with England to close out Group C and secure qualification for both sides.
In that game he played as part of a two-man midfield that had the unenviable task of keeping Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham at bay.
However, he did so with aplomb, with Sky Sports calling the 21-year-old ‘anonymous after half-time’, whilst suggesting he was ‘untidy in possession, and failed, for the most part, to recover his composure’.
Whilst that performance highlighted his defensive abilities, Elsnik excels in possession.
Former Derby academy director Darren Wassall spotted the talents of a young Elsnik before taking him into the academy and was full of credit for this qualities in a recent interview.
Wassall said of Elsnik: He could handle the ball, his first touch was excellent.
“We always looked for players who could play forward. He knew where the next pass was going, his left foot excellent, he hardly gave the ball away and didn’t play safe.
“He was not worried about making a mistake; creative players probably give the ball away a little bit more because they’re trying to make things happen.
“You always felt his technical ability was better at a higher level, playing with better players.”
With Slovenia set to face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on Monday night, Leicester fans will have a chance to catch another glimpse of their potential new signing.
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