KEY POINTS

  • Barca are set to offer an official bid for Leicester's Soyuncu
  • Soyuncu moved from Germany to Leicester in 2018
  • He has been a vital part of the squad since Maguire's departure to Man Utd

FC Barcelona are reportedly set to approach Leicester City with a bid of $36 million for centre-back Caglar Soyuncu.

Following Harry Maguire's record move to Manchester United last summer, Soyuncy became an integral part of the Leicester squad with his impressive performances.

According to Turkish publication NTV Spor, Soyuncu will sign a five-year with Barcelona if Leicester accepts the offer from the Catalans. The report also claimed the Catalans contacted Leicester a "while ago" and an official offer of $36 million will soon be made.

The Premier League side has eyes on Barcelona’s 20-year-old Francisco Trincao, who joined the latter during the January transfer window and now has a release clause of $591 million.

With Soyuncu being linked with Barcelona, the defender can aid Leicester in striking a deal with the Catalans that would include Trincao’s move to London.

Former goalkeeper Rüştü Reçber and midfielder Arda Turan played for Barcelona and if Soyuncu’s transfer does happen, he would become the third Turkish player to become a part of the La Liga giants.

The Portuguese youngster Trincao moved from Braga to Barcelona on a $36 million deal. On Wednesday, Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu announced the club is not going to sell the 20-year-old forward.

Mallorca's clash with Barcelona was played out in an empty stadium in the Balearic Islands as La Liga continued its return from a three-month shutdown
Mallorca's clash with Barcelona was played out in an empty stadium in the Balearic Islands as La Liga continued its return from a three-month shutdown AFP / JAIME REINA

Soyuncu made 42 competitive appearances for Leicester this season including 34 games in the Premier League, where he helped Brendan Rodgers side to their second-best finish in England's top-flight league. The London-based club won the league in the 2015-16 season and two seasons later, they finished fifth in the table.

The 24-year-old defender kickstarted his professional soccer career at Altinordu in Turkey before he moved to the German side Freiburg in 2016 on a $2.8 million. In the summer of 2018, Leicester paid $24 million to bring Soyuncu to the King Power Stadium.

Meanwhile, Soyuncu is a vital member of the Turkey national team as well. He has played 28 international matches for the senior team since 2016 and also has a goal in his account.

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