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Malaga to 'sign Japanese striker Okazaki following his release from Leicester'

  /  autty

Malaga are hopeful of signing Japanese striker Shinzi Okazaki following his release from Leicester City at the end of last season, say reports.

Diario AS verify a report from Diario Sur that the Costa del Sol club are close to landing the striker, with the club’s owner Abdullah Al-Thani giving the green light to a deal.

Okazaki left the King Power Stadium at the end of last season as a free agent after opting to finish his four-year spell at the Midlands club.

The Japan international had proven a hugely popular figure in the Leicester dressing room since a €9m move from German club Mainz in 2015.

The 33-year-old made 36 Premier League appearances under Claudio Ranieri as Leicester memorably lifted the Premier League title in the 2015/16 season, scoring five goals.

He netted 19 goals across 137 matches for the Foxes - although his true value did not lie in his goal output - but his reported wage demands could provide a stumbling block to any deal for the experienced striker.