Leicester City signing Patson Daka more ‘Vardy-esque’ rather than a Haaland regen; top six may not regret missing out – Tom Middle

Signing for Leicester City earlier this week, Brendan Rodgers’ men are thought to have conducted a transfer coup in snapping up RB Salzburg hitman Patson Daka, with top Premier League outfits, including Liverpool, reportedly holding an interest.

Speaking to Austria-based UEFA reporter Tom Middler, co-founder of The Other Bundesliga podcast, CaughtOffside explored the Foxes’ latest addition in the summer window and how much of a good fit the Zambian will be in the English top-flight.

Having observed Daka in the Austrian Bundesliga, do you feel it will be a smooth transition for the player to the Premier League and Leicester City?

I think it could be a tough transition, and I’d expect that he will spend a bit of time on the bench before he’s a regular Premier League feature. It’s definitely a big step to make, especially to Leicester who have high ambitions.

He’s a good buy, well worth a go, but in Austria, the defences can be quite ponderous, and the better teams set up the defence with quite an attacking focus, perhaps with some slower, older centre-backs, so for a pacey striker like Daka, it has simply been easy pickings. He’s not going to get that in the Premier League!

What kind of player will Leicester be getting in Daka – what are his strengths? Areas he needs to improve in his game?

Leicester will be getting a player, in some ways, that they recognise as he could be described as Vardy-esque in one way at least, and that is that he loves a direct dash in behind the defence.

It worked perfectly at Salzburg as he can just hang on the defender’s shoulder when the team are defending, and as soon as Salzburg won the ball back they would often look to play him in behind in a matter of seconds, and his pace took care of the rest.