Jakub Stolarczyk may have stepped up impressively in the absence of Mads Hermansen at Leicester City but Marti Cifuentes’ Championship title-chasers are leaving nothing to chance between the sticks.
Abdul Fatawu’s ‘ridiculous’ finish saw Leicester past Charlton a week ago. Amid all the speculation surrounding the winger – Sunderland reportedly submitted a £28 million offer earlier this month – Fatawu’s whizzing wondergoal at The Valley surely added a few more pounds onto his price-tag.
But though the galloping Ghanaian hogged all the post-match headlines, Leicester were equally indebted to Jakub Stolarczyk at the other end.
While the Foxes faithful fumed at Mads Hermansen’s departure, feeling that West Ham had nabbed themselves a bargain at £18 million, Stolarczyk is doing his level best to ensure that the Dane is far from irreplaceable.
Yet, Stolarczyk’s excellence against the Addicks has not stopped Leicester City from pursuing an external solution between the sticks. Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claimed on Wednesday that Leicester were trying to sign Jonas Omlin from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach.
Though, as Gladbach sporting director Roland Virkus explains, Omlin will only swap Borussia Park for the King Power on one condition.
Jonas Omlin playing in a friendly for Borussia Monchengladbach
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Roland Virkus reacts as Leicester City target Borussia Monchengladbach’s Jonas Omlin
Capped four times by Switzerland and a man who should be his prime at 31, Borussia Monchengladbach signed Omlin from Montpellier for a reported £7 million back in January 2023.
Brought in as a replacement for compatriot and now-Inter Milan glovesman Yann Sommer, Omlin captained The Foals last term albeit while spending much of the campaign out of the team due to injury.
He watched last weekend’s 0-0 Bundesliga draw with newly-promoted Hamburg from the substitute’s bench, however. And speaking to BILD, Virkus admits that Gladbach are considering letting Omlin go.
But, if that is to happen, a replacement will be required. Whether there is time to find one, with only a few days left before the window closes, remains to be seen as Leicester City face up to a frantic final 72 hours.
“Of course, we are weighing things up. It should definitely not be a very young goalkeeper, but one with experience who could step in at any time,” the director explains. “Therefore, the clear tendency is that we would react if Jonas left us.”
Martí Cifuentes Manager of Leicester City
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Manchester City could help Leicester by letting Stefan Ortega go
Plettenberg says that, if Omlin does depart before Monday’s deadline, Gladbach would insist on a purchase clause being included in any arrangement with Leicester City.
The five-time Bundesliga champions are looking into a deal for Stefan Ortega, meaning Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City could give Leicester quite the leg-up. Ortega may leave the Etihad if Gianluigi Donnarumma arrives.
Virkus confirms that Gladbach looked at Janis Blaswich too before his move from RB Leipzig to Bayer Leverkusen.
Leicester City badge - photo taken during Leicester City v Arsenal FC - Premier League
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Jakub Stolarczyk determined to keep Foxes place under Marti Cifuentes
Leicester City have missed out on Feyenoord’s Calvin Stengs, the playmaker jetting in for a medical at Serie A outfit Pisa SC.
Speculation surrounding Fatawu, Wout Faes and Bilal El Khannouss now threatens to dominate the discussions hurtling towards deadline day.
EFL Analysis can confirm that Leicester would rather sell El Khannouss to Saudi Arabia due to the extreme financial muscle demonstrated by clubs in the desert. A move to the Saudi Pro League for El Khannouss could bank the Foxes in excess of £40 million.
Stolarczyk, meanwhile, has no plans to give up on his new-found number one jersey without a fight even if a deal for Omlin can be agreed.
“I was never outright told I would be the number one [by coach Marti Cifuentes],” Stolarczyk tells Sky Sports. “It was more about the build-up and the work I was putting in toward the first game.
“That was when I started feeling this could be my chance to step onto the pitch and take the opportunity with both hands, which I believe I did.
“It feels special and motivates me even more this season to face the challenge and perform every game. My only focus is competing for that spot and helping the club get back to where it belongs.”