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Leicester City transfer news: Premier League champions closing in on £7.4m signing of Bartosz Kapustka

Everton, Southampton, and Ajax were reportedly interested in signing the Tarnów-born midfielder

Samuel Stevens
Friday 29 July 2016 17:44 BST
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(Getty)

Leicester City are set to announce their sixth signing of the summer after Polish international Bartosz Kapustka appeared to confirm a deal is in place with the Premier League champions.

The 19-year-old Cracovia midfielder was called "deliciously talented" by Gary Lineker this summer and looks set to join new Foxes signings Luis Hernandez, Raul Uche Rubio, Ahmed Musa, Ron-Robert Zieler and Nampalys Mendy in the East Midlands.

Everton, Southampton, and Ajax were reportedly interested in signing the Tarnów-born midfielder but Kapustka has seemingly confirmed the Leicester deal in an interview on Telewizja Polska.

He is quoted as saying: “I’m not going there just for fun. It is for the name of the club who last season won the championship of England. Of all the offers tabled, Leicester wanted me the most. [Claudio] Ranieri's interest was a big factor for me.”

Leicester’s move for Kapustka is unlikely to have an influence on the future of Riyad Mahrez, linked with a £40m switch to Arsenal this summer, although he is likely to provide competition for the Algerian as well as Marc Albrighton, Jeff Schlupp and Demarai Gray on the flanks.

Meanwhile, the East Midlands club have also confirmed defender Ben Chilwell has signed a new five-year contract after the young full-back turned down the opportunity to join Liverpool.

Ranieri told lcfc.com: “It’s fantastic news for us. Ben is a player with a big future and I am very happy that future will be with Leicester City. Ever since I arrived in Leicester, Ben has been a young player that has shown a lot of promise.

“He has all the attributes you would want in a defender and shows a lot of maturity for a player of just 19. He has come back for pre-season in very good condition and is already showing that he is ready to push for a place in the team.”

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