- 12 hours ago
Man Utd and Arsenal circle for promotion hero as Leicester forced to sell
Manchester United and Arsenal could benefit from Leicester City’s need to satisfy the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules to sign star player Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall this summer.
Although the Foxes stormed to Championship glory, their financial position is set to come under scrutiny and it may well be that they are forced to “sacrifice” at least one of their star players, according to transfer news expert Ben Jacobs.
Dewsbury-Hall reportedly has “no intention” of leaving Leicester, yet the decision may be taken out of his hands by the club.
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Jacobs explained to GiveMeSport: “Leicester are going to have to sell despite coming up to the Premier League, and they might have to still sell relatively fast.
“And this is where Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - a pure-profit player as it's known - is maybe somebody that the club feel at the right number they have to sacrifice even though the player has said publicly that he's got no intention of leaving.”
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Man Utd the big threat
Arsenal have been linked with the 25-year-old, who is an attack-minded midfielder valued around the €40 million (£35m) by his club, but Jacobs says that the main interest among the Premier League’s elite could come from Manchester United.
“My understanding on Dewsbury-Hall was always that if Leicester didn't go up, he might be available for as low as £25m. But, now that they have, I think we're looking at £35m,” Jacobs adds.
“If we go back to January, Leicester actually valued him more in the region of £45m, but I don't think it will be that high because of Leicester's financial situation if they agree to a deal.
“I think we are looking at in excess of £35m, as a minimum, for Dewsbury-Hall if they choose to sell and the player wants to leave, even though he said that he wants to stay. There remains interest from Brighton, Brentford could come into the mix, and Manchester United are another club to keep an eye on as well.”
Dewsbury-Hall had an excellent season in the Championship, playing all but two matches for the Foxes, scoring 12 goals and creating 14 more. His performances saw him nominated for Championship Player of the Year, an award ultimately won by Leeds winger Crysencio Summerville.