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Shinji Okazaki wants to leave Leicester City over lack of game time

Shinji Okazaki of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.
Image: Shinji Okazaki has failed to score in 169 minutes of Premier League action this season

Shinji Okazaki wants to leave Leicester City in the hope of getting more first-team opportunities, Sky Sports News understands.

The club, however, are reluctant to let him leave in January because they feel they do not have enough cover in the striker position.

Sky Sports News understands a number of Premier League clubs are interested in signing the 32-year-old, with Huddersfield making an approach to sign him last week.

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Highlights from Southampton's 2-1 win over Leicester in the Premier League

The Japan international was left out of Leicester's matchday squad for Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Southampton - the first time that has happened for 14 matches.

Okazaki told Japanese media after the game: "I can't feel satisfied as a player. After three-and-a-half years, maybe it's time to move on.

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Foxes manager Claude Puel is concerned that Okazaki is his only senior striker providing adequate cover for Jamie Vardy as Kelechi Iheanacho has not scored a goal for Leicester since September.

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Okazaki, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has said he wants to stay in Europe in order to secure a place in the Japan squad for the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

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