Antwerp are exploring a move for Leicester City midfielder Dennis Praet and could offer a loan in which they cover a large part of his wages to tempt the Foxes.
That’s according to Het Laatste Niuews, who back up reports from earlier today that Antwerp are looking at the Belgian as a replacement for Arthur Vermeeren.
It was explained by La Dernière Heure that Antwerp had opened initial conversations with Leicester over Praet as they prepare to lose Vermeeren to Atletico Madrid.
That explained Antwerp believe the midfielder can be secured on the cheap because his deal at Leicester is set to expire in the summer.
Antwerp’s interest is nothing new as they wanted the midfielder last summer but Leicester’s asking price was ‘(much) too high.’
The cards have now been reshuffled, though, as his contract expires on June 30th and that means Leicester have to sell him at a bargain price now or risk losing him on a free in the summer.
One potential idea being formulated at Antwerp is that rather than paying, they ‘take over’ part of or all of Praet’s wages until the end of the season and thus help Leicester save on that front.
A deal needs to be worked on with the Foxes, who themselves may not be open to a deal as they’re short of personnel in midfield and Praet can help to cover that.
The midfielder, though, needs playing time after being told by Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco that he needs to be playing regularly if he is to be in his squad for Euro 2024.
That means a move to Antwerp could be tempting and they are certainly in the mix at the end of the window.
