Martyn Glover brought Abdul Fatawu to Enzo Maresca’s attention, despite the Ghanaian winger having only played 10 senior games in Europe prior to the current season.
Enzo Maresca has thanked Leicester City’s recruitment chief Martyn Glover for spotting a talent in Abdul Fatawu.
The Ghanaian winger has been one of City’s standout players this season, and he delivered his most spectacular performance yet on Tuesday night, scoring a hat-trick and setting up Jamie Vardy in a 5-0 win over Southampton. He now has 18 Championship goals and assists, level with Vardy and Stephy Mavididi.
Fatawu joined on loan from Sporting Lisbon last summer as a relative unknown. Prior to this season, he had only started 10 games in Europe, nine of which were for Sporting’s B club in the third tier of Portuguese football.
However, after being noticed by City’s head of recruitment Glover and his scouting team, Maresca was shown Fatawu’s talents, and the manager decided he fit the gameplan. It’s a successful trade, and Maresca doesn’t want the scouting team’s efforts to go unnoticed.
“We are very happy with Abdul,” Maresca stated. “He’s a player, thanks to Martyn Glover.” This is a player he showed me this summer. When I saw him, I said, “This is exactly the profile we need.” It was Martyn Glover’s concept.
But, despite City’s transfer restriction, Fatawu’s future is unknown, even for Maresca. When asked if he knew anything about the 20-year-old’s prospective permanent move, the manager replied, “I have no idea. I’m not sure what’s going on. “It is complicated.”
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According to reports in Portugal, Fatawu’s loan contract includes a compulsory buy clause for €17 million (£14.5 million) that is contingent on promotion. However, City are now unable to sign any new players after the EFL imposed a transfer embargo in anticipation of the club breaching Profit and Sustainability criteria for the three-year cycle that ends this summer. It is likely that the club would aim to sell players in June to balance their books and stay within their budget.
However, if City wins promotion, the transfer embargo should be lifted once they are registered in the Premier League. That is, unless the Premier League collaborates with the EFL and determines that they should remain under embargo while their financial difficulties are resolved.
