Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu reportedly ‘wants to stay’ at the club if they reach the Premier League this season.
The 19-year-old is currently on loan from Sporting Lisbon till the end of the campaign but Leicester have the option for the deal to become permanent in the summer for €17 million (£14.6 million).
It is reported that if they earn promotion back to the top flight and Fatawu plays in 60 per cent of matches across the season, he will play under Enzo Maresca permanently.
What has Abdul Fatawu said about his Leicester future?
The allure of the Premier League has got the teenager salivating over the prospect of plying his trade in one of the best leagues in world football.
He told Soccer Laduma: “Premier League is my dream league, so I’m hoping to play there and since arriving, Leicester has given me a different feeling,
“For me, I’d be happy to stay at Leicester because I know and believe in the team, that we will qualify for the Premier League, so I’ll be happy to stay here.”
Having seemingly found a home at the King Power Stadium, he may achieve his dream this season with the Foxes currently inside the automatic promotion places by seven points and two points clear of Ipswich Town at the top.
What has Fatawu brought to Leicester?
In a star-studded Leicester squad, it would be easy for the youngster to go missing, but the Ghanian has showcased his talent on a regular basis.
An explosive winger, who possesses electrifying pace, Fatawu has scared the life out of defenders in the Championship and although he doesn’t have the contributions to show for it – two goals and one assist in 15 appearances – he’s still been a constant threat down the Foxes right flank.
According to FBref, the teenage superstar ranks in the top 3% against his positional peers in the Championship this season for progressive carries, top 6% for successful take-ons and top 2% for progressive passes received.
Quite clearly a menace on the counter-attack, Fatawu is difficult to stop when in full throttle and it’s his piercing runs that have been influential in opening sides that operate with a low-block.
At the age of just 19, the Leicester dynamo is showing the early signs of becoming a top player and if Maresca can continue to nurture him, he could be worth every penny of that £14.6 million fee come the summer.