Leicester City look set to sign Steve Cooper the centre-forward he so desperately desires with a deal close for Bayer Leverkusen striker Adam Hlozek.
With Kelechi Ihenacho leaving Leicester City upon the expiration of his contract this summer, Steve Cooper was already light on strikers.
Add to that injuries to both Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka in pre-season and the fact Tom Cannon is expected to leave on loan and the need for a new striker was becoming urgent.
The Leicester hierarchy look to now have addressed that issue, with a loan move for Bayer Leverkusen forward Adam Hlozek that includes an obligation to buy and here is all you need to know about the 22-year-old.
Adam Hlozek career so far
Hlozek played 36 games in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen last season, registering 12 goals contributions as the German club achieved a historic domestic double and lost the Europa League final.
However, The Czech Republic international has been on a journey to get to that point, having become the youngest debutant in Sparta Prague history aged just 16 years, three months and 16 days.
The striker won the Golden Boot for Sparta in the 2020/21 season despite missing four months of the campaign through injury, sharing the award with Jan Kuchta as both players scored 15 goals.
Hlozek also earned his place in the history books as he scored a record breaking four goals in one Czech top flight game in 2021, remarkably hitting all four strikes in the space of 23 minutes in a 6-1 win.
Just a month after that move, Hlozek earned his first call-up to the Czech national side for whom his record is not great, scoring just twice in 32 caps since.
Hlozek found himself behind Victor Boniface and Patrick Schick at Leverkusen last season, starting just 11 games in all competitions.
With this in mind, the Czech’s return of seven goals and five assists is not one to be disregarded.
What they say about Adam Hlozek
Bundesliga official website: “The way Hlozek strikes a ball is reminiscent of strikers of a bygone era.
“Big and strong, sees the ball and hits it when picked out in the box, even from seemingly unlikely situations. It’s no wonder comparisons with (a younger) Ibrahimovic have been made.”
Former coach Zdenek Scasny: “In training, he looks as strong as in a match. He’s an extraordinary talent who doesn’t play just because he is 16, but because he has earned it.”
Adam Hlozek player profile
Full name: Adam Hlozek
Age: 22
Height: 1.88m (6ft 2ins)
Nationality: Czech
Date of birth: 25th July 2002
Place of birth: Ivancice, Czech Republic
Position: Centre-forward
Club: Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
Adam Hlozek to Leicester City analysis
A big, powerful striker with an eye for goal, Hlozek looks to be just what Leicester need this summer.
With Vardy now 37 and Daka unreliable, Hlozek will give the Foxes a real outlet who will run defenders ragged and embrace the physicality of the Premier League.
Cooper likes to have a target man to spearhead his attack in a similar way to that of Taiwo Awoniyi and Chris Wood whilst he was Nottingham Forest manager and Hlozek can be just that at Leicester.
At 22, the Czech talent is sure to only get better too, meaning this is an investment that the club could benefit from for years to come.
After being on the periphery at Leverkusen, Hlozek is ready to be the main man at Leicester.
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In total, Hlozek scored 40 goals and provided 36 assists in 132 senior games in his homeland before sealing an £11 million move to Leverkusen still only age 20.
