Leicester and Bournemouth battling it out to sign highly rated Udinese midfielder Jakub Jankto
JAKUB JANKTO is one sought-after footballer.
The Udinese midfielder, 20, was scouted extensively by Arsenal last season, and now Champions Leicester and Bournemouth are battling to sign the Czech when the transfer window reopens in January.
Jakub Jankto eyes up the ball during a pre-season friendly between Union Berlin v UdineseCorbis SportJankto (r) played for Czech Republic U20’s against England last yearX01095
The Gunners were not forthcoming with an offer so the Foxes and the Cherries leapfrogged Arsene Wenger‘s side telling Serie A side Udinese they want to make an offer now.
Jankto impressed last season on loan at Ascoli in Serie B but is back with Udinese for this season, whose manager Giuseppe Iachini is prepared to throw him in at the deep end with a first XI chance.
He is yet to make his Udinese debut having signed in 2014 when he was spotted playing youth team football for Slavia Prague in his homeland.
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But at Ascoli he played 34 league games for Ascoli last season, scoring five goals, impressing with his box-to-box running.
According to the Guardian, his preferred position is on the left side of a 4-3-3 but he can operate in a variety of positions on the left-hand side.
The midfielder’s tireless running makes him highly rated with Premier League clubs sniffing aroundX01095Jankto (r) is valued at £8m by Udinese – but that is a small cost in these wealthy daysCorbis Sport
But it would take around £8million to prise him away from Udinese, who want to keep the Jankto to give him a shot in their team – but he is out of contract after this season and do not want to lose him on a free transfer in the summer.
Leicester have had a tricky start to life as Champions, the loss of N’Golo Kante to Chelsea making them far leakier in defence, and sit on four points from four games as do Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth.
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