Leicester, Spurs have Sigurdsson on radar

LONDON • Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City are among several English Premier League football clubs interested in signing Ragnar Sigurdsson after his impressive displays for Iceland in their run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, although they face competition from two German sides for the central defender.

Sigurdsson, who is under contract with the Russian side Krasnodar until 2018, has been a star performer in France, and was Man of the Match in the 2-1 victory against England in the last 16 on Monday, after scoring the equaliser and producing a commanding performance in defence.

That has attracted the attention of several clubs across Europe, with Schalke and Wolfsburg having already made contact with Krasnodar officials to lodge an interest in the 30-year-old.

However, it is understood that Sigurdsson, who would cost around €5 million (S$7.4 million), would prefer a move to the Premier League and his representatives have already been sounded out by Tottenham and Leicester, while Liverpool and other unnamed clubs have also expressed an interest.

Claudio Ranieri is pursuing defensive reinforcements before Leicester's maiden Champions League campaign with Spaniard Luis Hernandez set to complete his free transfer from Sporting Gijon today and the France Under-21 defensive midfielder Nampalys Mendy also close to completing a £12 million (S$21.7 million) move from Nice.

Tottenham also view Sigurdsson as a good backup for current first choices Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, with the Austria international Kevin Wimmer currently their only senior alternative.

Sigurdsson left Iceland at the age of 20, having begun his career at local side Fylkir. He played more than 100 games in four years at IFK Gothenburg, before joining Danish side Copenhagen in 2011.

Krasnodar signed him in 2014 for around £3 million and Sigurdsson was in the side who have played in the Europa League for the last two seasons.

The club went out at the last-32 stage last season, beaten 4-0 by Sparta Prague over two legs.

THE GUARDIAN

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 01, 2016, with the headline Leicester, Spurs have Sigurdsson on radar. Subscribe