Leicester City transfer hinted as Premier League wage claim made

Leicester City apparently asking for 80 per cent of Hamza Choudhury's wages to be paid as part of an agreement to loan out the midfielder is seen as an indication that they would be prepared to sanction a permanent transfer in the future.

The 24-year-old has been linked with both Premier League and Championship clubs this summer after making just 12 appearances across all competitions for City last season. Choudhury has not been loaned out by the club since the 2016/17 season but has come close to departing in recent campaigns.

Newcastle United, notably, were twice heavily rumoured to be moving for the player while Steve Bruce was the manager at St James' Park. With the 61-year-old now West Bromwich Albion boss, it is no surprise to see the Black Country club as one of the midfielder's reported suitors.

They are joined by second-tier rivals Middlesbrough as apparent suitors, while Everton and newly promoted Nottingham Forest have also been linked before. The Express and Star report that they understand Leicester want 80 per cent of Choudhury's wages to be paid in any loan move, which would likely price out Bruce's side.

But former England international Carlton Palmer, who also played for both Forest and West Brom, believes that the potential for a permanent move further down the line could tempt Albion to foot the bill. “Generally, when a player goes out on loan from a Premier League club, they very much assist in the salary, you know, as much as the parent club paying up to 75% of the salary," Palmer told FLW.

“So, in this case, where they’re asking for 80%, you can look at it that they’re prepared to let Choudhury go. So, it’s a question whether Steve Bruce looks at him and thinks he’s a player that he would