Yakubu Aiyegebni. A name that divides opinion for Leicester City fans. Some think he is lazy and doesn't do enough for the team, while others, me included, think he is a quality striker at this level and should be at the top of Sven's summer shopping list.
Sven has made it abundantly clear that promotion is the target for next season. For any team to be successful, they need a 20 goal a season player. Look at the leaders of each league in England. Man United's Dimitar Berbatov has scored 21 league goals, QPR's Adel Taarabt has scored 19 league goals, Brighton's Glenn Murray has scored 22 league goals and Chesterfield's Craig Davies has scored 23 league goals. It's no coincidence that all these teams have been successful as well as having a 20 goal a season striker in their ranks.
Andy King is Leicester's top scorer this season with 15 goals, an outstanding contribution from a midfielder. But it's a big ask for him to be Leicester's 20 goal a season man playing in the position he does. Yakubu, along with Paul Gallagher, has scored ten goals for City in only half a season, meaning that in theory, the Yak would score 20 goals in a full season.
When the Nigerian came off the bench against Watford with City trailing 2-1, a few boos could be heard around the Walkers Stadium. Yet he scored two goals and arguably changed the game. Although he doesn't give 100% work rate, one thing you can't say about the Yak is that he doesn't know where the goal is. Wherever he has been, he has scored goals.
If you believe the papers, Everton are looking to offload Yakubu for £2 million. Although it may seem like a lot, it would be a small price to pay if his goals propelled Leicester to the promised land. City have also strongly been linked with Coventry City striker Marlon King, a player who has convictions for 14 offences, dating from 1997. In May 2002, King received an 18 month prison sentence for receiving stolen goods, then in December 2008, King was arrested on suspicion of punching a 20 year-old female student in the face, causing a broken nose and split lip. This lead to King being convicted of sexual assault and assault occasioning bodily harm, and sentenced to 18 months in prision and placed on the sex offender register for seven years.
So who would Leicester fans rather have up front? A criminal? Or a player who may not work his socks off, but guarentees goals?
