Arsenal FC . and Aston Villa have joined the race to sign Leicester City fullback Jeff Schlupp this summer, according to report in English media.
Jeff Schlupp is coming of the back of a brilliant season with Leicester City, who managed to avoid relegation with relative ease. Schlupp was one of the key performers of Nigel Pearsona s side and was eventually voted Citya s young player of the season and playera s player of the season awards. His performances down the left flank of Leicester and a host of clubs are monitoring is situation.
Schlupp is an extremely versatile footballer, who can play both as a fullback and as an attacking midfielder down the left. The 22-year-old had a trail with Manchester United in 2013, but opted to remain at Leicester in order to gain regular first team action. Ghanaian international missed out on a trip to Brazil for the World Cup last year, but he did feature in the African Cup of Nations this year after a string of impressive performances for his club.
Report in English media suggest that both Arsenal and Aston Villa are lining up a bid for Schlupp. Arsenal does have Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs in the left back department. The Spaniard performed brilliantly last season, but Gibbs’ fitness remains a concern. Wenger perhaps sees Schlupp as a long-term replacement for Monreal, along with being drawn by his versatility.
Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has also earmarked Schlupp to shore up his options and the Birmingham based club will perhaps provide more regular first team football than Arsenal. Leicester City however are under to pressure to sell Schlupp, whose current contract with the club runs till 2017. Reports suggest that Arsenal are lining up a A?5million for the Ghanaian and Leicester are unlikely to entertain any offer, unless someone pays way over the top.