Yahoo News Leicester City close in on Italian defender as £13m transfer update issued
Leicester City are closing in on the signing of Atalanta centre-back Caleb Okoli, according to reports in Italy.
City are said to have agreed a deal of €15m (£12.7m) for the 22-year-old defender. And while a move for Abdul Fatawu is close to being announced, it’s reported that Okoli could become City’s first new senior signing of the summer.
The former Italy Under-21 international spent last season on loan at Frosinone in Serie A, playing 34 times as they finished 18th to suffer relegation. A fall into Serie B does not look to have harmed Okoli’s reputation though.
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The 22-year-old came through the youth ranks at Atalanta, but having spent a few seasons out on loan, he’s only managed 17 senior appearances for the club. Before a year at Frosinone, he also spent time with SPAL and Cremonese.
His arrival at City would add weight to the idea that new manager Steve Cooper will be playing with a defensive five, with three centre-backs and two wing-backs. Okoli would join Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard, Conor Coady, Ben Nelson, and Harry Souttar in the squad, giving Cooper plenty of options at the back.
While Okoli is right-footed, the same as City’s current centre-back options, he often played on the left of the back three when Frosinone opted for that formation in certain matches last season.
