Leicester City are now finally close to finalizing a deal for long-term target Stefano Sensi.
Enzo Maresca placed Stefano Sensi on his radar early on in this transfer window as he aimed to bolster his midfield.
It’s an area where Leicester are light on numbers following the injury to Wilfred Ndidi while the departure of Cesare Casadei back to Chelsea further emphasized the importance of bringing in a new player.
Maresca was told that he may need to free up some of his wage budget by selling some of his players before he could buy.
He didn’t expect that to be Casadei, who was surprisingly recalled by Mauricio Pochettino, but that news has now pushed Leicester closer to announcing Sensi.
Leicester City are now close to finalizing Stefano Sensi deal
It’s been a long-running saga throughout this window but Maresca could finally get his hands on a player he “really wants”.
According to FCInterNews, a call is scheduled to take place between Leicester and Inter Milan to discuss the final details of the transfer.
The report claims that the Foxes want to divide the €2 million (£1.7 million) fee into two instalments, paying half of the fee immediately and paying the other half if promotion to the Premier League is achieved.
Given Leicester are eight points clear of third place Southampton at the top of the Championship, it would take an almighty collapse for Maresca’s side to bottle promotion at this stage.
Sensi is expected to sign a two-and-a-half-year contract which expires in June 2026 and he will become their first signing of the window.
The signing of Sensi fixes two problems for Enzo Maresca
Maresca was so desperate to get the signing of Sensi over the line because he will fix two problems for the Italian.
The 28-year-old can operate in two midfield positions as a deep-lying playmaker or as one of two advanced midfielders.
This versatility gives Maresca the flexibility to play a variety of systems, placing the former Italy international alongside Harry Winks in a double pivot or next to the ever-present Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall further forward.
Sensi is also a supremely talented player whose career has been held back by injuries, particularly at Inter where he’s only made four appearances this term.
In a Maresca system, the onus is on dominating possession and patiently waiting for openings.
As a metronome, Sensi fits perfectly into that style having displayed his ability as an exceptional ball-playing midfielder.
Such quality makes the proposed £1.7 million fee look like a steal and he can prove that by helping Leicester win promotion to the Premier League.