Brady target of £12m bid by Leicester

IRELAND’S Eurostar Robbie Brady could be on the way to Premier League champions Leicester City, although the price could be as high as £12m. A Leicester newspaper reported last night that Claudio Ranieri is interested in offering the 24-year-old an instant return to the Premier League with the club understood to be in discussions with Brady’s agent. The Dubliner (right) was impressive for Norwich City last season despite being relegated, and wrote his name into Irish football history when his late winner against Italy ensured Martin O’Neill’s team reached the knock-out stage of Euro 2016. Brady also scored a second minute penalty to put Ireland 1-0 up against France. Leicester face competition from a number of other Premier League clubs who have been impressed by Brady last season and at the Euros. Brady has two years left on his contract at Norwich and was reported to be focused only on the Irish campaign in France. The Canaries are believed to be seeking more than the £7million they paid Hull City for Brady 12 months ago. ÷ ST PATRICK’S Athletic begin their quest to make the group stage of the Europa League today, as they host AS Jeunesse Esch of Luxembourg at Richmond Park in the first qualifying round. Esch are Luxembourg’s most successful club, with 28 National Division titles to their name, along with 13 Luxembourg Cup triumphs. The visitors are no strangers to these shores, having lost 3-1 to Dundalk in a Europa League first qualifying round tie in July 2014, bowing out 5-1 on aggregate. Their most celebrated result came against Liverpool in the first round of the 1973-74 competition. They held the then-UEFA Cup holders to a 1–1 draw in Esch before going down 2-0 in the second leg at Anfield. St Pat’s will hope to improve on their own performances in last year’s Europa League. The Inchicore side fell to 4-1 defeat on aggregate to Latvia’s Skonto. Kick-off at Richmond Park is at 7.45pm, with the second leg in the Grand Duchy on July 5.