Premier League Champions Leicester City are in the transfer market for several players, as they’ll need a bigger and more competitive squad next season for Champions League football but they might also have to replace a few stars in their team.
Jamie Vardy might be on his way to Arsenal, but another player that could leave the Foxes is N’Golo Kante. The French midfielder is a transfer target for several top European clubs, with reports suggesting he has a release clause of £20m.
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Leicester, however, seem to be prepared for the worst and have started looking for replacements. The Premier League side have been repeatedly linked to OGN Nice midfielder Nampalys Mendy, and it now appears they’re quite serious about it.
Also read: EPL Transfer Rumour: Claudio Ranieri confirms Arsenal have triggered Jamie Vardy's release clause
Leicester City have already made an offer of €10m, as they continue negotiations with the Ligue 1 side, according to RMC Sport in France. It is reported OGC Nice want at least €16m for the midfielder, as they look to take advantage of the new TV deal in the Premier League.
Mendy’s contract at OGC Nice club expires next summer, so at some point, Nice might be forced to sell the player or risk losing him on a free transfer next summer. The 23-year-old has already played under Ranieri at AS Monaco and it is reported both of them are keen on a reunion.
A readymade Kante replacement?
Frankly, there seems to be some substance to this, and Mendy could very well be heading to Leicester this summer. The player is in the mould of Kante and could be a brilliant addition to the Premier League champions squad for next season.
Another midfielder linked to Leicester is Mario Lemina, who completed a permanent move to Juventus from Marseille in a €9m deal after spending the last season on loan in Turin. According to TuttoSport in Italy, Leicester City are interested in signing the 22-year-old but the Serie A champions want at least €20m for the midfielder.
Lemina has managed just over 700 minutes of league football this season, and it’s difficult to understand Leicester’s interest in the player. Frankly, even if Leicester are interested in the former Marseille midfielder, it’s highly unlikely they’d want to pay €20m for a player, who has failed to make an impact at Juventus.
Leicester would ideally want to complete a deal for Mendy, who has been a long-term transfer target for them, and a deal for the young French midfielder looks very much possible if the Premier League side and OGC Nice can work out a compromise.
