Leicester City and Southampton are reportedly among the clubs interested in the services of Shakhtar Donetsk winger Tete.
According to talkSPORT correspondent Alex Crook, Leicester City have been keeping an eye on Tete, with the hopes of making a potential move during the special transfer window granted by FIFA for players in Ukraine and Russia. Southampton are also believed to be keen on securing the services of the Brazilian, though negotiations could be tricky.
A product of the Gremio youth academy, Tete has been a part of Shakhtar Donetsk since early 2019. During his ongoing three-year spell in Ukraine, the attacker has featured in over 100 games for the club, racking up 31 goals and 15 assists.
A right-winger by trade, the Brazilian has impressed the onlookers with his speed and trickery on the flanks. His relatively short 1.75m frame also comes in handy when it comes to squeezing through tight spaces, making the attacker an excellent ball-carrier in the final third.
Tete’s qualities in the attack had yielded great success for the youngster this season until football in the country was halted due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Seeking a way out of Shakhtar could be tricky as well, at least until the end of the season.
2/2 Agreeing a permanent transfer is also difficult as clearly such trivial matters are not a priority in Ukraine at this troubled time.
— Alex Crook ⚽️??? (@alex_crook) March 12, 2022
While FIFA’s special window could technically allow players plying their trade in Russia or Ukraine to momentarily leave their respective clubs in favour of a loan move elsewhere, the Premier League currently prohibits players from joining English clubs.
It could effectively bar Leicester and Southampton from making a move for Tete, even though clubs from other leagues are able to do so. Crook adds that signing the winger on a permanent deal could be tricky as well, as the Ukrainian clubs, including Shakhtar, are not concerned about footballing matters at this point in time.
The addition of Tete could be massive for a club like Leicester City, who have been crying out for a reliable alternative for Harvey Barnes and Ademola Lookman in the wide attacking roles. Even Southampton could use some additional firepower out wide, with Tete fitting the bill perfectly due to his dynamism and speed in the final third.
While Premier League’s stance on the transfer window could be subject to change, it appears unlikely that the FA is going to allow clubs to sign players with the official transfer window closed, as it may create an imbalance between the contesting teams, knowing some teams may have greater financial reach than others.
