Leicester City have failed with a third bid for St Etienne defender Wesley Fofana worth a staggering £30 million, according to L’Equipe.
With little more than a week remaining before the transfer window closes, Brendan Rodgers isn’t the only man at the King Power hoping a deal for a new central defender can be agreed.
Wilfried Ndidi, you’d imagine, will be equally desperate to see Fofana arrive.
The Nigerian isn’t one to complain but he won’t want to spend much longer playing in an unfamiliar centre-back role.
Jonny Evans will be back from suspension at the start of October, of course, but the Irishman’s recent absence has highlighted how short the Foxes are in defence, with legendary captain Wes Morgan now 36 and Filip Benkovic out of favour.
Little wonder Leicester have made defensive reinforcements their top priority. If an injury befalls Evans or Caglar Soyuncu, Ndidi will have to give up his preferred number six role once again.
Fofana, a 19-year-old Frenchman who plays like an experienced campaigner thanks to his game intelligence and composure in possession, appears to have emerged as Leicester’s first choice.
However, according to L’Equipe, St Etienne are standing strong.
The 2016 Premier League champions have seen a third bid, worth £30 million, batted away by a Les Verts side coached by former Leicester boss Claude Puel.
“No (we will not sell), because Claude Puel is very firm on the subject,” St Etienne president Bernard Caiazzo told Sport recently.
So far, he has been true to his word.
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