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Leicester eye up Brazilian winger as Mahrez replacement

| 12.10.2016

With star man Riyad Mahrez potentially the subject of a January move to Arsenal, Leicester City are planning for all eventualities. And the man tipped to succeed the Algerian is exciting winger Jonathan Cafu.

The Foxes may have hung on to Mahrez over the summer, but a lukewarm start to the campaign has seen talk of an exit resume for last season’s 17-goal star.

And it’s Cafu, currently starring for Bulgarian side Ludogorets, who Claudio Ranieri is reportedly looking to as a potential replacement.

The 25-year-old joined the Parva Liga side from Sao Paulo last summer, and quickly settled in his first foray into European football.

Netting eight times in addition to supplying three assists, Cafu proved to be a vital piece of the Ludogorets team which claimed last season’s top-flight title – their fifth in succession.

And the Sao Paulo native has kicked on again this term, firing in six goals and five assists in just 14 appearances across all competitions.

It’s the kind of form which is attracting glances from established clubs across Europe, with Leicester set to battle it out against Lazio and Lyon for the forward’s services.

Ironically the Foxes may get their best chance to check out their potential signing when Cafu faces the club who could kick-start his arrival to England in the first place – Arsenal.

Ludogorets are set to head to the Emirates this week in the Champions League, and an impressive performance on English shores may just be the latest thing to tempt Leicester into a move should Mahrez move on.

With the Algerian set to cost Arsenal or any potential bidder around £40m, Cafu’s value on transfermarkt.co.uk of £3.4m is unlikely to cause Leicester any problems.

The Foxes return to domestic duty this Saturday by heading to Ranieri’s former employers, Chelsea, and the bookies make the reigning champions 19/4 for victory at Stamford Bridge.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing

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Author

Richard Marsh

Richard loves his sport, especially if it involves the sound of tyres screaming around a race track. He's not fussy though and his '90s Premier League nostalgia and knowledge of team nicknames is tough to match.