Incoming Burnley boss Vincent Kompany will have a tough task luring Mandela Keita to the Championship with OH Leuven desperate to retain the £4 million midfielder, as reported by Het Laaste Nieuws.
Imagine a footballer with the swagger and the style of Paul Pogba, coupled with the tenacity and tirelessness of N’Golo Kante. A fearsome prospect, we’re sure you’d agree.
Of course, 20-year-old Keita has a long, long way to go before he can realistically be mentioned in the same sentence as two World Cup winners but his potential – and his rather ‘unique’ skill-set – is clear for all to see.
“Mandela Keita mirrors not only (Arsenal’s) Albert Sambi Lokonga, but also the top players N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba,” writes Belgian publication Voetbal Nieuws a couple of weeks ago.
Keita, meanwhile, is refusing to shy away from such lofty comparisons. In fact, he’s embracing them. Clearly, confidence is not an issue.
“The fact that I try to combine the two (Kante and Pogba) makes me quite unique, I think,” he says.
Will Mandela Keita follow Vincent Kompany to Burnley?
Unique, and expensive too. At least, as far as OH Leuven are concerned. Should he depart – HLN point out that Burnley are likely to face competition from Italian clubs for the Belgium U21 international – then Keita could become the second-most expensive export in OHL’s history, with the Jupiler League outfit valuing their prized asset at around £4 million.
Not that Leuven are actively encouraging offers, of course.
“We do not intend to sell Mandela,” says CEO Peter Willems.
“In football you can never say never because, if there is an insane offer, we will look into it. (But) Mandela clearly fits into next season’s plans. We are certainly not asking to get rid of him.”
Burnley, who are expected to unveil former Anderlecht boss Kompany as Sean Dyche’s replacement sooner rather than later, are also reportedly keen on KV Oostende forward Makhtar Gueye, alongside Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
The Clarets will reportedly offer £4 million for Gueye, a potential successor for the wantaway Wout Weghorst.
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