The English clubs could reportedly lodge bids for the 23-year-old Jamaica international this month.
Leicester City and Reading are both eyeing highly-rated New York Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence, according to Yahoo Sports.
Lawrence, 23, joined the Red Bulls from Harbour View FC in his native Jamaica in March after impressing during a preseason trial and soon established himself as one of the top left-backs in MLS.
The 26-times capped international proved instrumental in helping the club win the 2015 Supporters’ Shield as the team with the best regular season record, while he also starred during Jamaica’s run the CONCACAF Gold Cup final in the summer.
Prior to that, the pacey full-back proved similarly impressive for the Reggae Boyz at the Copa America in Chile, as he received widespread praise for his performances from both fans and the media alike.
“I haven’t seen a better left-back in the entire tournament,” South American football expert Tim Vickery told BBC Radio 5 Live’s World Football Phone-in after seeing the 5ft 10in speedster defend against Lionel Messi in Jamaica’s 1-0 group defeat to Argentina.
“A Premier League club should have a look at him. He looks really, really impressive.”
Unsurprisingly, several clubs across the Atlantic have reportedly been taking notice of Lawrence’s recent rise, and Yahoo Sports’ report claims that both Leicester and Reading have been scouting him since the summer.
It is even suggested that the two clubs could make bids for him within the coming weeks ahead of the winter transfer window opening next month, although it remains to be seen what kind of transfer fee his services would command.
The Red Bulls fan favourite, who recorded one goal and four assists in 27 MLS appearances last season, had his contract option for 2016 picked up this week, but his new deal is expected to earn him just $5,000 [£3,306] more than the $60,000 [39,678] he made in 2015.
That fact would seemingly make the prospect of a European payday all the more appealing, and given his rapid progress of late, there is good reason to believe that Lawrence could make the grade in either the Premier League or Championship.
A potential move to Leicester would even see him link up with Jamaica teammate Wes Morgan at the King Power Stadium, and the Foxes captain has spoken in glowing terms of his compatriot’s talent in the past.
“From the first time I’ve played with him, I have been impressed,” Morgan told the Jamaica Observer back June 2014 following a 1-0 defeat to Switzerland. “I was impressed against Switzerland, how he dealt with Shaqiri, who is a major player for Bayern Munich, and the way he handled him.”
It sounds like the centre-back could well have put in a good word for Lawrence with Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, then, although along with Reading, there are sure to be other clubs in the mix for his signature.
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