Chelsea and Manchester United will reportedly have to pay Leicester City €80 million if they want to sign star defender Wesley Fofana.
According to a report by French outlet RMC SPORT, Chelsea and Manchester United have both registered an interest in Wesley Fofana and know how much they will need to cough up to secure the services of the star centre-back from Leicester City. The Foxes will demand €80 million to part ways with the France Under-21 international in a bid to ward off any outside interest for their prized asset this summer.
Fofana missed a large chunk of the 2021/222 season just gone after picking up a serious fibula fracture just before the start of the campaign. The defender eventually managed to work his way back into the Leicester side towards the end of the campaign, making 12 appearances across the Premier League and Europa Conference League.
Nevertheless, it appears suitors have not forgotten the quality and potential that he exhibited in his debut season in the English top-flight, where he made a name for himself as one of the Premier League’s finest young defenders with his stellar displays for the Foxes.
Fofana was signed by Ligue 1 outfit Saint Etienne for a reported fee of €35 million in 2020 as a replacement for Harry Maguire, and he became an instant hit with the Foxes’ faithful thanks to his classy defensive displays. However, with Leicester failing to qualify for any European competition, his future is now up in the air.
The Foxes, however, are determined not to lose a crucial member of their backline and are counting on him to propel them to Europe next season, given that their defence looked all over the place without him last term.
Having already tied the player down to a new contract that runs until 2027, the ball is pretty much in Leicester’s court. Per RMC Sport, the club have also slapped an €80 million price tag on the Frenchman in order to ward off interested parties, namely Chelsea and Manchester United, both of whom will be wary of paying over the top for his signing.
Both clubs are scouring the market for a new centre-back, with the Blues in desperate need of reinforcements after losing Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers, whereas Erik ten Hag is looking to revamp the roster at Old Trafford. Chelsea and Manchester United are said to be keen admirers of Fofana, and could well battle it out for his signature.
Chelsea’s defence is inexperienced, with only Thiago Silva, 37, standing out. However, Silva’s advancing age is an issue and Thomas Tuchel prefers younger, athletic legs beside the Brazilian defender. The Blues have been in contact with Sevilla for long-term target Jules Kounde since 2021.
However, Leicester’s Fofana appears to be another option on the London club’s radar. As for Manchester United, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe are likely to leave the club, which leaves the Red Devils with only three senior central defenders.
It is understandable why Fofana is such an attractive proposition for both Chelsea and Manchester United. He has already proven himself in English football and, at the age of 21, has room for future development. Whether they will match Leicester’s hefty transfer demands remains the question, however.