Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Premier League Champions Leicester have made their 4th signing of the Summer with the announcement that Nigerian striker Ahmed Musa has joined the club for Russia’s CSKA Moscow. The £16m fee means that Musa is Leicester’s club record signing
The 23 year old moves to The King Power stadium on a 4 year deal and will link up with Jamie Vardy in Leicester’s attack. It was testament to how well Leicester performed last season and the goals that Vardy in particular scored as they only had 3 recognised strikers in Vardy, Shinji Okazaki and Leonardo Ulloa.
But with the prospect of Champions League football on the horizon Claudio Ranieri has obviously felt that their forward ranks could do with an addition and in Musa they certainly have someone who knows where the net is
Leicester had to beat off interest from a trio of Premier League clubs with Everton, Southampton and West Ham all chasing the signing of the Nigerian international. As champions Leicester were always going to be at the front of the queue and when you can also offer playing in the Champions League then any potential signing would be silly to go elsewhere
With the signing of Musa the Leicester ranks are now starting to swell in time for the new season as he joins fellow new recruits goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler, defender Luis Hernandez and midfielder Nampalys Mendy. The constant seems to be that Leicester aren’t necessarily going for superstars but players who can complement what was a title winning side
Previous to signing for Leicester, Musa spent four years in the Russian capital and scored 54 times in 168 games that gives you a ratio of just under 1 goal in every 3 games. Not a record to be sniffed and if he can provide that kind of return next season then Leicester will have made a shrewd signing
He also made history for his country by being the first person to score more than once in a World Cup match when he bagged a brace against finalists Argentina back in 2014. His first goal was also recorded as the fastest goal scored in Nigerian World Cup history
Leicester fans will be hoping he can make just as quick a start to life in the Premier League. You get the feeling that Musa is going to have to hit the ground running as they pressure is now going to be on Leicester to live up to last season’s performances
Last season saw certainly in the early stages of the season an element of them flying under the radar and playing with no fear or pressure as expectations were low but now that they are wearing the Premier League Champions badges on their shirts every other side will be looking to claim the scalp of the current champions.
As every says it’s hard to win the title but even harder to defend it and Leicester are now going to find out just how difficult that is.
