The Ghanaian scored three goals in his final three appearances in Belgium’s top flight, with a Home Office rule change allowing him to now move to the King Power Stadium
A Home Office rule change has opened the door for Leicester City to strengthen their squad without spending a penny. Now they have to consider whether they should.
Back in the January transfer window, when they were bringing in the likes of Harry Souttar, Tete, Victor Kristiansen, and nearly Jack Harrison, they also made a left-field signing, plucking 21-year-old Ghanaian forward Nathan Opoku from the US. He had been playing college football in the States for Syracuse University, and had caught the eye.
When he signed, he was immediately loaned to OH Leuven in Belgium. That was the intention from the start, as shown by Brendan Rodgers’ limited knowledge of him. The then City boss said of Opoku: “With the greatest respect, that was a player that was signed for Leuven. So I’m not fully aware of the young player. I know that part of the plan was for him to go to Leuven and see how he progresses from there.”
He has progressed very well. While it took him a few weeks to get into manager Marc Brys’s plans, he then started to shine. He started four games in total, including Leuven’s final three fixtures of the season. In each of those last three, he put his speed to excellent use and showed his eye for goal, scoring in each of the games and getting an assist too.
The campaign ended with Leuven just missing out on the Europa League play-offs, so they organised a post-season friendly with Brentford’s B team at the start of May. Opoku scored in that as well.
The intention seemed to be to loan Opoku back to Leuven for the upcoming season. While the player himself said he was waiting on Leicester to have their say, the noise in Belgium was that they were keen to have him back, and were confident of getting him back, especially considering the work permit rules.
But now those have changed. Working with the FA, the Home Office have now approved new criteria, meaning a Championship club such as City can sign four players who ordinarily would not have received a work permit.
Since Brexit, there have been stricter criteria on bringing players in from overseas, with only internationals for top-ranked countries able to get in. This Home Office change enables clubs to bring in a wealth of talent from all over the world, allowing English clubs to scout for hidden gems.
Opoku could be that hidden gem for City. With the club losing so many players over the summer, and with a need to bolster the squad in plenty of areas, he may be a player that could make an impact for Enzo Maresca.
Certainly, he’s not back with OH Leuven yet. They’re already in pre-season training and have played two friendlies, but there is no sign of the Ghanaian. What City must decide is if they feel he is able to make an immediate impact at Championship level, or whether he is better served at Leuven, where his impressive start should mean he gets plenty of game-time.
He had been playing as a striker for Leuven, and if that is the position he is going to operate in regularly, then City may not need him. Maresca has confirmed Jamie Vardy is staying, while it’s likely that at least one of Patson Daka and Kelechi Iheanacho will stick around too.
But, out in America, Opoku did also play off the right wing. If that is a role City can see him playing, then he may come in handy. With Harvey Barnes set to leave, City have just one senior winger in their squad in Marc Albrighton.
While there are promising youngsters in those positions in Wanya Marcal-Madivadua, Tawanda Maswanhise, and Kasey McAteer, there is a need for others who have played at a higher level. Opoku doesn’t have much experience, but he does have some, and has made the most of it.
Choosing what to do with Opoku, and what is best for him, is one of many decisions that Maresca and City need to make over the next month. If they choose to bring him into the fold, that’s one less signing they need in this busy window.
