Just now: Fulham £18m free agent target rejects’ Championship” club as Wolves and Ipswich Town signature race nears end…
Deadline Day may have passed, but Premier League clubs can still bolster their squads by signing players currently not contracted at another club. One such player is Dennis Praet, the 30-year-old who was released by Leicester City at the end of the previous campaign. Praet has reportedly turned down a move to Championship outfit Burnley as the race for the midfielder’s signature heats up following the close of the summer window.
According to HITC, the player turned down a contract offer from the Clarets despite Premier League interest in moving to the second-tier team. The source continues, “The Cottagers are among the teams contemplating a deal, with Wolves and Ipswich Town as competitors.”
Praet, a midfielder, was signed by Leicester City for £18 million in 2019 and went on to play 107 games for the team. His 17 Championship appearances came during the team’s 2019–20 season as they reached the Premier League.
Additionally, Praet has potential suitors in his native Belgium, which could be an alluring option for the star, who started his career with Anderlecht. Anderlecht recently abandoned their pursuit of Manchester United’s Christian Eriksen, but they are still looking to add a midfield player. According to a Belgian outlet, Praet has even had a medical examination in preparation for a possible move, which could eliminate any last-minute Premier League interest.
Praet, who is 29 years old and at the peak of his physical career, told Het Nieuwsblad at the beginning of the summer that he was ready for a new chapter in his life and that his contract was about to expire.
“I definitely want to become important somewhere again, so that I can find the fun in the game again. The focus now is on finding the right club. “I am realistic enough to realise that a top-four team from a top league will not suddenly come and get me. But if I end up at a nice mid-range club where I can become a key player, that’s also good. And if it is in a location where it is fun for my family to stay, then that is a bonus.”
