Transfer News: Patson Daka set to join Leicester City after Liverpool snub
According to reports in his native Zambia (h/t Leicestershire Live), Patson Daka chose to join Leicester City instead of Liverpool because of more playing time at The King Power Stadium.
The report mentions that Liverpool got as far as holding talks with Daka, and so did West Ham United. However, he is now close to joining the Foxes.
The deal is believed to cost Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester around £23million as Daka’s contract at RB Salzburg expires in 2024. The Foxes moved for him after struggling to agree on terms with Celtic for Odsonne Edouard.
Jamie Vardy is 34 and he cannot play forever for the Foxes while Brendan Rodgers occasionally played a formation with two strikers in their latest season.
Daka to Leicester almost done
And that is why, the 22-year-old Daka does have a better chance to play more at Leicester. Roberto Firmino is, as of now, the undisputed number 9 at Liverpool.
Challenging him for that spot are Divock Origi and the versatile forward, Diogo Jota. Daka would have been a stellar addition for the Reds, especially in the long term.
But it is evident that he would not have been a pinned starter at the club – at least until Roberto Firmino is favoured by Jurgen Klopp. Daka’s form in Austria, however, cannot be ignored.
The Zambian international scored 27 times in 28 Austrian Bundesliga games as Salzburg lifted the league title. This does seem like a transfer blow to the Reds who should be looking to add more depth going into the new season.
More Liverpool News:
- Transfer News: Napoli after Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas
- Abdul Fatawu Issahaku set to join Liverpool from Ghana side Steadfast
- Transfer News: Liverpool join Manchester United in pursuit of John McGinn from Aston Villa
The club should also look into midfield where a signing would help, considering Georginio Wijnaldum’s departure to PSG on a free transfer (h/t Mirror). However, only time will tell which positions Klopp decides to strengthen and what players, if any, join Anfield in the summer.
