Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri raided the January transfer market for the second time last week by snapping up Ghana international Daniel Amartey from FC Copenhagen. The versatile 21-year-old arrives at the King Power on a four-and-a-half year contract and revealed that the Foxes have been after his signature for some time:
“It’s a great pleasure to join Leicester City. I know the Club have been interested in signing me for some time and that was a big part of my decision to come here. All over Europe, people are talking about Leicester City and how well the Club is doing in the Premier League. The team plays exciting, attacking football and I’m looking forward to being part of it.”
The History
Amartey started his career at Ghana lower league outfit International Allies, where he was spotted as a sixteen-year-old by Magnus Pehrsson, who was on a scouting trip in Africa ahead of his installation to the hotseat at Swedish club Djurgardens IF.
After inviting the player to train in Sweden for three months, Pehrsson secured the rights for Amartey’s signature from the day he turned 18. Having started off in the youth set-up, the all-action Amartey quickly found his way into the Djurgardens first-team, where he was utilised as a centre-half and central midfielder over the course of two seasons, producing just a single assist over 40 appearances in all competitions. After attracting interest from Liverpool, Amartey’s second year in Sweden was curtailed by a wrist injury which restricted him to just 11 league matches.
In the summer of 2014, the Ghanaian made his way to FC Copenhagen for a fee of €2.5m. He was mainly fielded as a central midfielder during his time in Denmark, though showed his adaptability by occasionally filling in at centre-half and right-back. During his first season, Amartey helped the club secure the Danish Cup and finish second in the Alka Superligaen, and leaves this year with Copenhagen sitting at the summit. Over the course of 63 appearances in all competitions, he produced six goals and three assists.
On the international stage, he made his debut for Ghana last year and has since turned out six times, helping his country finish runners-up in the 2015 African Cup of Nations.
The Prospects
Amartey’s arrival bolsters the Foxes options at a time when – prior to yesterday’s home win over Stoke – Ranieri’s side had started to stutter.
Nonetheless, with N’Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater – who bagged a goal and assist against the Potters – firmly established as Ranieri’s preferred options in the centre of the park, Amartey is likely to be eased into the Foxes first-team set-up. The new boy certainly possesses the attributes than would be perfect for Leicester’s counter-attacking tactics under the Italian, boasting searing pace and endless energy that should quickly see him move up the back-up pecking order ahead of the likes of Andy King and Gokhan Inler.
In central defence, Robert Huth and Wes Morgan look nailed-on in a backline that’s conceded just a single goal in the last five Gameweeks, whilst it seems unlikely that Ranieri would utilise the new boy at right-back at the expense of Danny Simpson, given that he’s impressed so much in the centre of the park. Arguably, though, this could be his quickest route into the Foxes’ first-team, offering Leicester a physical, very mobile presence behind Riyad Mahrez on the right flank.
As we mentioned in the Demarai Gray Scout Report, though, Ranieri has been a little reluctant to instantly alter his first-team – the likes of Christian Fuchs, for example, failed to start in the league until Gameweek 8 before playing all but one of the Foxes’ subsequent fixtures.
With his side now back at the summit, Ranieri – who has mainly resisted his previous penchant for tinkering since arriving at the King Power – is likely to court further caution over the run in, ensuring that Amartey (who has yet to be added to the Fantasy Premier League game) remains a peripheral figure for now. It’s more likely that he could be one for the following campaign, once Ranieri has worked out where he fits best into his first-team plans.
