Leicester City Interested in Pre-Contract Agreement for Olympiacos Right-Back

20 March 2020 18:39

​Leicester City are reportedly interested in completing a deal for Olympiacos right-back Omar Elabdellaoui, according to a report.

The defender is free to speak to clubs overseas as his contract is set to expire in summer, meaning interested clubs could complete the deal on a free transfer.

Elabdellaoui has been in talks with the Greek side over a new deal, but the two parties are yet to reach an agreement. 

Greek website Sdna, ​as reported via Sport Witness, have suggested that Leicester City are interested in completing a deal to bring the 28-year-old to the King Power Stadium, with first choice right-back Ricardo Pereira ruled out of action with an ACL injury.

Leicester have been linked with the move for a while, but face competition from La Liga side Valencia who are also keen on signing Elabdellaoui, according to Sdna.

Elabdellaoui joined ​Manchester City aged 16 in 2011, but left two years later without making an appearance for the first team. He joined Olympiacos in 2014, but spent time on loan with Hull City in 2017. 

Since then however, the Norwegian has established himself as a key player at Olympiacos, after an impressive 2018/19 campaign which has continued into this season. His ability and leadership in the defence has earned him the captains armband this season, where he has impressed as a part of a side that knocked ​Arsenal out of the Europa League round of 32.


So far, Elabellaoui has made 38 appearances and managed one goal, and possesses qualities in defence and attack, which makes him an ideal candidate for Brendan Rodgers in Pereira's absence.


26-year-old Pereira has been widely considered as one of the Premier League's best full-backs this season. He has managed three goals and two assists in the league from right-back, and has been an ever-present in a ​Leicester side that sits in third place with nine games to play.

Pereira suffered the injury in the Foxes 4-0 victory against Aston Villa at the start of the month, and was ruled out of Euro 2020, initially scheduled for summer. However, with the European Championships pushed back to summer 2021 amid the global breakout of COVID-19, Pereira will once again have a chance to stake his claim in the Portugal side.


All English football has currently been suspended until 30 April at the earliest as a precaution against the pandemic, but UEFA remain hopeful that all domestic campaigns can be completed by the end of June.

Source: 90min