Real Madrid have held talks with Tanguy Kouassi with a centre-back linked to Leeds United potentially on his way to the Santiago Bernabau instead, according to Le10 Sport.
Back in the summer of 2011, Los Blancos snapped up an 18-year-old defender who had turned heads aplenty in Ligue 1. And, considering that Raphael Varane has lifted 16 trophies in the Spanish capital, including four Champions League’s, it’s fair to say Zinedine Zidane had the right idea about a future World Cup winner.
Almost a decade on, Zidane is now on the trail of another France-based defensive starlet.
Paris Saint-Germain’s rising star Tanguy Kouassi is set to follow Kingsley Coman, Matteo Guendouzi, Odsonne Edouard and co out of the Parc des Princes with his contract due to expire in July.
And, according to Le10 Sport, Zidane has identified the 17-year-old as the ideal addition to an ageing backline.
Kouassi, described as a ‘great’ talent by PSG coach Thomas Tuchel, would be the latest in a string of talented teenagers snapped up by Real president Florentino Perez with that ‘Galactico’ era now a thing of the distant past.
So any hopes that Leeds might have had of luring one of Europe’s most highly-rated defenders appear to have gone by the wayside.
90Min suggested that Kouassi could be loaned out to the Elland Road outfit if PSG could agree fresh terms. Now, however, it seems that both Leeds and the Ligue 1 champions will be left disappointed.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
