Should Leicester pursue summer transfer target Mohamed-Ali Cho?

Leicester City have been linked with a move for 18-year-old Angers forward Mohamed-Ali Cho. Here is what you need to know about this lesser-known gem.

SCO Angers are an interesting case study of French football. The archetype of what us English like to call the farmers league. They have very few big names or flashy players. However, as is the usual, there exists a diamond in the rough.

Cho is one such talent. It is therefore not a surprise to learn that a selection of teams are interested in bringing the young Frenchman into the fold. The Foxes are one such team. Well, according to reports, the King Power side have identified the forward as a potential in case any strikers were to leave in the summer.

What Leicester City need to know

Brendan Rodgers will have thoroughly scouted the prospect before adding Cho to the list of possible replacements and transfers. Interestingly, this player is both an England and French youth international.

Born in France, Cho spent time with the Everton academy, before long the versatile attacker was already on the move back to France. He became Europe’s youngest professional player when he signed for the Ligue 1 side.

The French club’s academy director has given useful comments on the playing-style and potential destination of this talent. It is worth noting that the player can perform anywhere across a front three.

"“In what he can do and in the way he plays, he’s the Kylian Mbappe of Angers… He works hard in training… I knew he was a force of nature and capable of sparkling in his game… He has a surgical left foot”– Abdel Bouhazama as per FootballTransfers"

So, the East Midlands residents should pay attention to these words. A youthful, left-footed forward, explosive, surgical, and physically well-built. Mohamed-Ali Cho has all the attributes to go far in the game and to do well at any level.

Should the Foxes go for him?

It is always difficult to predict the potential success or failure of a transfer/starlet, and how much value the buying club should hope to expect from a player. However, this is one of those more easily decided, especially when a squad refresh is on the cards.

His current deal lasts until 2023. With only a year left on his deal, SCO Angers may feel the pressure to sell instead of risk losing him on a free. Previously, the French side were asking for around €40m, now it is around €20m – £16m and we could likely get him for less.

Therefore, from a price perspective, so long as the player is long-term and can get into the senior side from time to time, he is a bargain buy. There is a big however in this analysis. That is, we have three strikers and Cho has performed in the centre significantly better than on either flank.

Unless Leicester City were to sell Kelechi Iheanacho in the summer and no longer look towards the U23 side for their replacements, then there is little reason to bring in the French youth player. His quality is undeniable, but if you are not going to play him, then it is nearly pointless.

My recommendation would be to decide the future of ‘Nacho’. If this is to sell, then it is a no-brainer to bring in the left-footed attacker for the bargain price we could get him for. Plus, having a future with Patson Daka and Cho could be very nice indeed.