Leicester City have been linked with a move for Sao Paulo’s defensive titan Lucas Beraldo.
That’s according to UOL (as relayed by Vamo Sao Paulo), who have claimed that the Foxes sent scouts to watch him during São Paulo’s 1-0 victory over RB Bragantino in November.
Despite boasting the defence in the league with only 12 goals conceded, it is reported that Enzo Maresca could be willing to offer €20 million (£17 million) to land the talented centre-back.
The Foxes have taken the Championship by storm since their relegation from the Premier League, topping the table with 15 wins from their opening 19 matches.
Whilst that suggests Maresca’s side have had a comfortable ride, their form in recent weeks suggests there is still a long way to go until they can breathe comfortably.
After defeats against Leeds United and Middlesbrough, Leicester recorded a bitterly disappointing draw against bottom dwellers, Sheffield Wednesday before leaving it late to beat West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Given that they’ve hit a bump in the road, the Midlands outfit could pursue a move for Beraldo in January to provide added defensive cover.
Should Leicester make a move for Lucas Beraldo?
Considering Jannik Vestegaard and Wout Faes have struck up an excellent defensive partnership this term, the need to add another body to the ranks isn’t as pressing.
That said, Leicester’s ambition is to reach the Premier League and given Vestegaard and Faes struggled in the top flight last term, the Foxes could do with signing an exceptional ball-playing centre-back with Beraldo fitting that bill.
Having emerged from the same club as Eder Militao, the 19-year-old has been compared to the Real Madrid star, but it isn’t just his background that has drawn this comparison – his ability in possession has shined through.
According to Brazilian journalist Mateus Pinheiro, Beraldo has played in many positions across his career, which explains why he’s so comfortable on the ball.
He said: “Since he was a child, Beraldo has played as a winger, midfielder and centre-back, so he is a guy who naturally has an enormous facility to come out playing, to drive the ball and to dominate the play with impressive calm,”
The statistics certainly back up that claim with the “gem” – as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – recording an impressive 89% pass completion and 54% accurate long balls in 2023, as per Sofascore.
Beraldo has also excelled from a defensive point of view, winning 59% of his ground duels, recovering 6.1 balls per game and making 1.2 tackles per game.
Although the teenager has the potential to become an all-encompassing modern centre-back – like Militao – with interest from Premier League big hitters, Liverpool make this a difficult deal for the Championship side to get done.