Leicester, Everton and Arsenal want to sign talented defender

With the 2019/20 season concluding on Sunday, Leicester City have been rumoured to be interested in finally improving their backline.

19-year-old Wesley Fofana has been linked with Leicester City after impressing for Saint-Étienne last season. The Marseille-born defender made his debut for Les Verts in May 2019 before being handed his first start of last season in October.

Fofana scored his first league goal in his fourth start in the 4-1 victory over OGC Nice before starting nine of the last 12 games before the postponement of the season.

According to Footmercato, the Foxes are preparing to battle with Everton and Arsenal for the signature of the talented defender after his impressive performance in the 1-0 French Cup final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Footmercato also claimed that AC Milan had a £15million bid turned down.

With Ryan Bennett’s loan failing to convince the Foxes of making the move permanent from Wolves, Brendan Rodgers will want to find a long-term replacement for Jonny Evans this summer.

Claude Puel, Fofana’s current manager and former-Leicester boss, has been praised the defender in the past, stating to the Ligue 1’s official website: “Wesley has enormous potential with the state of mind of a competitor” following the defender extended his contract at ASSE.

Standing at six foot two, the French defender has received praise for his aerial presence and ball interceptions. With Leicester’s constant desire to play out from the back, Fofana’s comfort on the ball makes him stand out from many defenders.

Despite being tall, Fofana possesses lighting pace and uses pace to put a halt to attacks.

With Sunday’s defeat confirming that the Foxes will be participating in the Europa League next season, the defender will fit in perfectly into Rodgers’ side after starting the group games against FK Oleksandriya and KAA Gent.

Could Fofana be the answer to Leicester City’s defensive problems?

Since Harry Maguire’s departure to Manchester United last year, fans have been calling for a new centre-back to come in and compete with Evans and Caglar Soyuncu.

However, after Soyuncu’s impressive start to the season, the requirement to add to the ranks decreased and Bennett was brought in for back-up.

With Evans turning 33 in January, Rodgers will be keen to add to his ageing backline and Fofana could come cheap at around £18million.

His teammate, William Saliba, joined Arsenal in July 2019 from Saint-Étienne and Fofana could follow the 19-year-old in moving to England. If Leicester do secure the signature of Fofana, it will come at a good price and ease the pressure of Evans and Soyuncu ahead of a congested 2020/21 campaign.