Latest developments
- Leicester City are interested in Brighton & Hove Albion's Tariq Lamptey.
- The defender has six months left on his Seagulls deal.
- He has not featured regularly for Fabian Hurzeler this season.
Whisper+ analysis
Authenticity (3/5): Top correspondent exclusive
Leicester are interested in signing Tariq Lamptey from Brighton to bolster their defence ahead of their fight for survival.
This was reported by footballinsider247.com and their top transfer guru Pete O'Rourke, one of the leading sources of Premier League transfer news.
Value (4/5): Available on the cheap?
The London-born Ghana international has spent five years on the south coast since leaving Chelsea, but only has six months left on his current deal.
Therefore, the Foxes have the chance to get him for a cut price, below his already-reasonable £10 million market valuation, as Brighton risk losing him on a free.
Suitability (4.5/5): Injury prone?
Fabian Hurzeler does not seem to rate Lamptey highly, playing him just nine times in the league this season, including five starts, despite the fact he has managed four goal involvements in those appearances.
That kind of productivity will be ideal for Leicester in their survival bid, the one concern being Lamptey's injury record. Should he pick up anything serious, Ruud van Nistelrooy's men will be back to square one.
Upgrade? (4/5): Foxes have already signed a right-back
Leicester have already brought in Woyo Coulibaly from Parma this month, giving them three options at right-back, with Ricardo Pereira and James Justin at the club.
Justin got the nod to start in the vital win over Tottenham at the weekend, and many would see Lamptey as an improvement on him, but he would have plenty of competition on his hands.
Logic (2/5): Back in favour?
On the flip side, however, that degree of competition detracts from the logic of this move. So even with Pereira injured, the Foxes might be better suited chasing players in other areas of the pitch.
Eight appearances in Brighton's last 11 in the league suggest Lamptey might be back in the good books at the Amex and won't want to swap that for a relegation fight, though he would surely like his future settled.
Whisper+ verdict: 17.5/25
A lot to like about this meaty rumour, but the logic is where it starts to fall down.
