Wesley Fofana (Image credit: Google)
Back in July, Footmercato (h/t Leicestershire Live) claimed that Leicester city were plotting a move for Saint-Etienne starlet Wesley Fofana. But since then, no such talks have progressed.
The report also suggested that the teenager is valued at £27.3m by the French outfit. Clubs like Arsenal, Everton, AC Milan and RB Leipzig are also interested in securing Fofana’s services, as per the report.
Born in France, Fofana spent time at several academies before rising through the rank St. Etienne’s youth system. Though he made his debut in the 2018/19 campaign, he struggled for regular game time that season.
However, last season, he was at his best and despite his tender age, Fofana established himself as a key member of the squad. He helped his side reach the French Cup final, which St. Etienne eventually lost to PSG, but the teenager put in an eye-catching performance.
Brendan Rodgers’ men were brilliant for the majority of the last campaign but they failed to qualify for the Champions League after falling out of the top-four spot. Though their defence was one of the best, they didn’t do well towards the end of last season. And it is clear that the Foxes need to bring in reinforcements to their backline.
At the moment, four central defenders are available at Rodgers’ disposal. Jonny Evans and Caglar Soyuncu have been regular starters, forming a strong partnership at the heart of the defence. Club captain Wes Morgan featured in limited games and Filip Benkovic hasn’t yet convinced the manager for a role in the squad.
Moreover, Morgan and Evans are beyond 30 and are reaching the twilight of their career. And this leaves the Foxes with just one young defender for the future in Soyuncu. Thus, Leicester should consider bringing in a centre-back, and reviving their interest in Fofana would be a wise decision.
The 19-year-old was in sensational form last season and has continued with that into the new campaign. He has shown immense potential despite his tender age and could be seen as a replacement for Evans or Morgan in the future. He has the ability to grow under the guidance of someone like Rodgers.
At 19, he has a huge future ahead of him and still has a lot of room for development. With Morgan and Evans ageing, the Foxes are in need of central defenders for the future and Fofana could provide them with quality and a long-term option. Thus, Leicester should reignite their interest in the young Frenchman.
