Report: Leicester pondering €20M approach for Andrea Petagna
Leicester City are considering a €20-million bid for Andrea Petagna, according to The Guardian's Fabrizio Romano.
Foxes scouts have watched the 23-year-old Petagna as he's logged 14 goals for SPAL during the current Serie A campaign. The one-time Italian international is on Atalanta's books, but he joined SPAL on loan for the 2018-19 season.
The striker appears destined to be a full-time player for SPAL before a potential transfer to England. Romano understands SPAL have an obligation to buy Petagna for €10 million if they avoid relegation, and the club is currently nine points above the relegation zone with five matches remaining.
Petagna, who apparently drew interest from Cardiff City in January, is a physically imposing and industrious frontman enjoying his first prolific season in Italy's top flight.
He began his professional career with AC Milan and was loaned out to Sampdoria, Latina Calcio, Vicenza, and Ascoli before moving permanently to Atalanta in 2016. In the two subsequent seasons with Atalanta, he played 63 Serie A matches and scored nine times.
The Trieste native would compete with Jamie Vardy, 32, for minutes if he joined Leicester, and would threaten the future of misfiring Kelechi Iheanacho in the East Midlands. Fan favorite Shinji Okazaki is expected to leave the Foxes when his contract expires at the end of the season.