Liverpool and Leeds United are keen to sign Ligue 1 starlet Loic Bade, with the Lens defender admitting that he may consider a move away while speaking to L’Equipe, via Maxifoot.
The club from the Stade Bollaert-Delelis certainly know a thing or two about developing top-class defensive talents.
A certain Raphael Varane honed his trade at Lens before becoming a World and European champion at Real Madrid. 20-year-old Bade would be hard pressed to emulate his remarkable success, but the Paris-born starlet certainly has plenty of potential in his locker.
According to Le10 Sport, Bade has played his way onto the radar of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, while Leeds also see the 6ft 3ins stopper as the man capable of solving their own defensive deficiencies (FootMercato).
The former Le Havre ace is under contract until 2023.
While he is under no rush to leave a Lens side who have confounded expectations to sit fifth in the table during their first season back in Ligue 1, all offers will be carefully considered.
“I am very comfortable in Lens and proud of what I do there. Being watched (by other clubs) is not an end in itself. And then, there was nothing concrete in January try and turn my head,” said Bade, who has made 21 top-flight appearances this term.
“I live fully this season. After that, anything can happen.”
Bade did admit that he could stay for one more season at Lens.
But, with AC Milan and Borussia Monchengladbach joining Leeds and Liverpool in the queue, the surprise packages of French football are facing a major task as they look to hang onto one of the country’s most promising up-and-comers.
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