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Daniel Amartey set to sign for Leicester from FC Copenhagen

Leicester have agreed a deal to buy Daniel Amartey from FC Copenhagen, the Danish club have announced on their official website

The Foxes, the surprise package of the season who are level on points with Premier League leaders Arsenal, have yet to confirm the deal.

But speaking at a news conference on Monday ahead of his side's FA Cup third-round replay against Tottenham on Wednesday, manager Claudio Ranieri said: "Wait a little more. I want good players to improve my squad. Amartey is good at this."

Ranieri did hint that striker Andrej Kramaric could be heading out on loan this month. Ranieri last week told the Croatia international his interests would be better served leaving Leicester temporarily, after making just five appearances for the club under the Italian this season. 

The Leicester boss is seeking to bolster the squad of the shock title contenders and Amartey, a Ghana international capped six times by his country, would become the second January arrival at the King Power Stadium after Demarai Gray joined from Birmingham for £3.75 million.

FC Copenhagen say a fee has been agreed for Amartey's transfer and that the player, who can play in defence or midfield, just needs to finalise personal terms.

A statement on their official website said: "A deal has been agreed between FC Copenhagen and Leicester City FC for Daniel Amartey.

"The agreement has been signed on the assumption that Amartey and Leicester City FC as expected come to an agreement on a few personal/minor details."

FC Copenhagen chief executive Anders Horsholt added: "We cannot turn down a transfer of this size because generally speaking, it is the best outcome for FC Copenhagen.

"We have been very happy to have Daniel here but it is part of our strategy as a club and a company to develop players to a level where they get so attractive that clubs from the biggest leagues will buy them for large sums of money."

Amartey started his career with the Swedish side Djurgarden before moving to Denmark in 2014. His arrival at Leicester is likely to trigger a loan move for Gokhan Inler, with the Switzerland captain wanting first-team football ahead of Euro 2016.

Villa are reportedly interested in the midfielder, while a move to Schalke has not materialised. Inler has made nine appearances for Leicester -- but only three league starts -- since signing from Napoli in August and was an unused substitute at Villa Park on Saturday.

Kramaric has fallen behind Jamie Vardy, Leonardo Ulloa and Shinji Okazaki in the pecking order at the King Power Stadium and Ranieri has said he will discuss the possibility of a move with the 24-year-old, who joined Leicester for £7million just a year ago.

Bundesliga side Hoffenheim are reportedly keen on Kramaric and while Ranieri would not talk about the German club specifically, he said: ''I'd like all my players happy. I know that who doesn't play is not happy, of course. If they were happy they're mad!

'But, of course, I also have to understand what they want to do because also Kramaric has the European Championships and he needs to play.

''For me he is a fantastic player but at the moment I look more at the other three strikers. That is the problem, but for me he is an unbelievable goal scorer.

'Maybe I don't see him involved very well with the team but he is a fantastic player, works hard during training sessions and it is so sad I don't give him the opportunities.

''I want to speak with him and feel what he wants to do.''

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