Leeds United are keen to land RC Lens skipper Seko Fofana in the summer
According to Media Foot, Premier League side Leeds United are interested in securing the services of RC Lens skipper Seko Fofana in the 2023 summer transfer window.
The 27-year-old moved to the Estadio Bollaert-Delelis in 2020 from Udinese Calcio and has developed into a key player for the Ligue 1 side. He has since made 89 appearances for the club, scoring 16 goals and assisting ten more.
Now the skipper, Fofana has played a key role in Lens’s rise this season. Les Sang et Or currently sit second in the French top-flight table and are also the only side to defeat Paris Saint-Germain this season.
Despite penning a new deal with the club just last season, the Ivory Coast international looks set to leave in the summer. Leeds are keeping close tabs on the situation but also faces competition from OGC Nice and AS Monaco.
Jesse Marsch’s side are struggling to stay afloat after a good start to the season and finds themselves embroiled in the relegation dogfight. The midfield, in particular, has looked lightweight since the departure of Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City last summer. While Leeds did bring in players, none of them make up for the Englishman’s ability and also leadership.
It makes sense for the Peacocks to bring in a midfield general of sorts, who can help organise the team better and help maintain their formation in the middle of the park. However, given their situation, signing Fofana should be seen as a priority in January rather than waiting until the summer.
A leader of men, the Ivorian international will add much-needed steel to Marsch’s squad. Add to it his driving runs from midfield and the ability to score goals, one can see that Fofana is the full package. However, it is debatable if he will be keen to swap France for England if Leeds ends up getting relegated.
Life in England is not something unfamiliar to Fofana. He spent three years at Manchester City from 2013-2016. While he failed to make a single senior appearance at the Etihad, Fofana enjoyed loan spells at Fulham in the Championship.
The midfielder should not have much issue adapting to the football in the Premier League. However, it remains to be seen if he is keen on making the move to Leeds, to begin with. As things stand, staying put in France, even if it is for another Ligue 1 side makes more sense.
