Leicester City cast scouting mission on Brazilian player - transfer is eyed for January | OneFootball

Leicester City are reportedly scouting Brazilian defender Bruno Fuchs

Leicester City scouts have cast an eye over the performances of Brazilian centre-back Bruno Fuchs ahead of a potential transfer in the upcoming winter window.

According to a report from ESPN in Brazil, a member of the Foxes' scouting team was present as Fuchs featured in Palmeiras' 4-0 success over LDU Quito in the Copa Libertadores semi-final second leg at the Allianz Parque stadium in São Paulo.

Leicester currently sit 14th in the Championship amid an extremely underwhelming run of recent form, having won just one of their past nine league encounters which have followed the closure of the summer window.

Such a run has only seen pressure mount on manager, Marti Cifuentes, who was only installed at the King Power Stadium in place of Ruud van Nistelrooy back in mid-July following the club's relegation from the Premier League.

The East Midlands side are enduring a mini-crisis at present, having lost their past three encounters against Hull City, Millwall and Blackburn Rovers, scoring just once over the aforementioned 270-minute period.

The upcoming transfer window is now less than two months away from opening on New Year's Day, with the 32-day period allowing sides across the world to make required changes in order to achieve their short-term aspirations.

Leicester oversaw a major squad reset in the previous window, with several high-profile names and big earners departing the club, whilst Cifuentes was restricted to just five incomings which cost £0 amid financial uncertainty and fears of a potential points' deduction.

Regardless, more change is expected in January, with the aforementioned Fuchs becoming the latest man linked with a potential switch to the King Power.

As previously mentioned, ESPN in Brazil revealed on Monday that a figure from the Foxes' scouting team was present in São Paulo last week, casting an eye on Fuchs' performance against Palmeiras' Ecuadorian opposition.

Remarkably, after suffering a 3-0 defeat in the first leg, Abel Ferreira's side well and truly defied the odds to book their place in the final, which takes place against Flamengo on November 29th.

Perhaps unaware that Leicester staff were in the crowd, Fuchs was integral to his team's comeback, as he helped preserve a required clean sheet and also increased the chances of a dramatic comeback as he made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time, before a second-half double from Raphael Veiga helped completely turn the tide.

The aforementioned report states that the 26-year-old is very highly-rated within the confines of the King Power Stadium, as well as multiple sides also away from his native Brazil.

Fuchs is currently on loan with Palmeiras from Atlético Mineiro, although it has been revealed that the Brazilian Serie A leaders will see him officially become a permanent member of the squad in January after exercising an option-to-buy clause, reportedly in the region of €3.5m.

The eight-time Under-23 international has been a key performer for the club as they look to achieve a 19th title success, featuring at centre-back and in the base of midfield across a multitude of competitions, including the FIFA Club World Cup in the summer.

He has made 36 appearances for Palmeiras thus far, scoring on three occasions.

With a strong collection of performances, it is clear that Fuchs has made serious impressions on many, meaning that Foxes supporters could welcome his potential arrival.

In fact, they aren't the only English side to have been linked with a move for his services, as back in 2020, former Arsenal technical director, Edu, now of Nottingham Forest, looked to add Fuchs to Mikel Arteta's squad at the time before a move failed to materialise.

It also remains to be seen what Leicester's own rearguard will look like in January, with recent reports stating that Sunderland goalkeeper, Anthony Patterson, could join the club on loan, whilst experienced centre-back, Wout Faes, may depart for an eight-figure sum amid interest from Lazio.

It is clear, though, that a defensive restructure may be the order of the day, which may not come as much of a surprise given the recent shortcomings shown by Cifuentes' men.