Leicester City have agreed to terms for the transfer of Ricardo Pereira from FC Porto, the club announced officially.
The fee is believed to be £22m and the player will join the squad after the World Cup, where he is set to represent Portugal.
There was a lot of eagerness prior to the move and now that the Foxes have completed the deal, it is undoubtedly a great move.
Pereira is an incredibly versatile player in the sense that he can play on either side of the defence and is also adept at playing as a right-midfielder and right-winger. He is the ideal blend of pace and trickery needed to keep opponent attackers at bay.
At the same time, Pereira is also quite capable when it comes to surging forward to aid the attack. Much like any other modern-day full-back, the 25-year-old can supply some crucial crosses to the attackers up front.
Over the course of the recently concluded season, Pereira played a key role for Porto as they finished at the top of the Primeira Liga. In 27 Portuguese top-flight appearances, Pereira managed to score 2 goals and provide 4 assists and it goes without saying that a player like him could work wonders for Leicester.
The Foxes have been on the hunt to strengthen their defence and surely, Pereira would go a long way in doing that.
Pereira favours playing as a right-back and as far as Leicester’s current options in that area are concerned, they have Danny Simpson. The 31-year-old clearly does not have age on his side and at that same time, his performances have not been convincing either.
Also, due to a significant lack of pace, Simpson does not offer much while going forward. However, Pereira would tick all these boxes, which makes him a good upgrade.
Pereira would not only strengthen their forces but is also a statement of intent from manager Claude Puel. The £22m fee doesn’t look too steep either, considering Pereira’s quality.
Undoubtedly, Leicester have made a bright start to the summer window by sealing the deal for Pereira. All eyes will now be on the player as he takes the field for Portugal. A good performance on the biggest stage can be expected now that his future is sorted out.
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