Manchester United will reportedly have to battle fellow Premier League rivals Leicester City in their pursuit of French forward Alassane Plea.
According to a report from French outlet Le10 Sport, Leicester City have joined Manchester United in the pursuit of Borussia Monchengladbach forward Alassane Plea.
The 27-year-old Plea came through the youth ranks at Olympique Lyon, but failed to make an impression in the first-team. It was at OGC Nice where the Frenchman burst into limelight, enjoying four fruitful years, before joining Monchengladbach in the summer of 2018.
Plea enjoyed a fine debut campaign in Germany, bagging 15 goals in 35 matches across all competitions. He managed to carry that form into the 2019-20 season as well, having scored and assisted 8 goals apiece in 28 matches before football was shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Reports in the Express earlier this week claimed that Manchester United had taken an interest in the 27-year-old ahead of the summer transfer window. The Red Devils had lacked depth in the centre-forward department this season, having let go of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez last summer.
The loan signing of Odion Ighalo in the January transfer window has addressed the issue somewhat, but it seems like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains keen on bolstering his attacking department further in the summer. Manchester United have also been heavily linked with a move for Tottenham star Harry Kane, but are likely to be priced out of a move.
This could explain United’s interest in Monchengladbach star Plea. Given the fact that he can play anywhere across the frontline makes him an attractive option as well. However, the Red Devils will now have to battle Leicester City in order to land the one-time capped French international.
Leicester City are primed to finish in the top four this season, led by Jamie Vardy’s goals. The Englishman is the leading goalscorer in the Premier League this term, while Kelechi Iheanacho has essayed the backup role quite well. However, Vardy turned 33 this past January and will soon need to be phased out of the first-team, necessitating the addition of a new forward to the squad.
Plea has impressed heavily in his year-and-a-half at Monchengladbach. The 27-year-old has a contract with the club till 2023, meaning the Bundesliga outfit will play hardball in negotiations. A sale though, is very much on the cards given that their finances are believed to have taken a huge hit by the coronavirus crisis.
It now remains to be seen if either of Manchester United or Leicester City act on their reported interest in Plea and make an attempt to sign him when the transfer window opens for business.
