Real Madrid are reportedly prioritising a summer move for Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana, having ended their pursuit of Antonio Rudiger.
According to Spanish publication Defensa Central, Real Madrid have made Leicester City centre-back Wesley Fofana as their priority transfer target for the upcoming transfer window.
Fofana came through the youth ranks at French club Saint-Etienne and made close to 30 senior appearances. Leicester splashed the cash on the 21-year-old in the summer transfer window of 2020 despite his lack of experience at the highest level. And the move paid off handsomely for the Foxes as the Frenchman soon became a mainstay at the back.
Indeed, Fofana enjoyed a stunning debut season in England. He played a key role in Leicester winning the FA Cup and finishing in the UEFA Europa League spots. The young defender’s composure, maturity and ball-playing ability caught the eye of several top clubs over the summer.
However, a serious injury in the pre-season meant that a transfer was off the table. Fofana is yet to fully recover from the injury but is believed to be closing in on a return. Despite him not having kicked the ball even once this term, the interest in the Frenchman remains intact, with Real Madrid pursuing his signature.
The Spanish capital outfit are in the market for defensive reinforcements as they seek to add more quality to their centre-back contingent that currently has Eder Militao, David Alaba, Nacho and Jesus Vallejo. Of the quartet, Nacho has not been consistent enough, whereas Vallejo has been unable to break into the team under Carlo Ancelotti.
So, it is only logical for Real Madrid to target new centre-back additions. A move for Chelsea contract rebel Antonio Rudiger was believed to be in the works, but Los Blancos have ended their pursuit of the German due to his contract demands. Meanwhile, their other target Jules Kounde has a massive release clause worth €80 million, while Barcelona are also interested in him.
Hence, Real Madrid have turned their sights towards Fofana and have made him their priority target for the summer. As per the report, the 21-year-old’s market value stands at around €40 million, which would not be an issue for Real Madrid. It also states that Leicester City might consider selling him for a profit should Los Blancos come in with a sizeable offer.
However, Real Madrid will wait to see how Fofana fares once he returns from his long injury layoff before stepping up the ante in his pursuit. The Spanish giants had their eyes on Fofana’s compatriot William Saliba as well, but Arsenal’s reluctance to sell means that the Leicester City man is currently at the top of the Merengues’ wishlist.