According to a recent report by The Sun, Premier League giants Leicester City are said to be battling Manchester United for the signature of AS Monaco’s highly-rated French full-back Fode Ballo-Toure. The report suggests that Leicester City are targeting the speedster as a potential replacement for English ace Ben Chilwell, who recently swapped shades of blue when he moved from the King Power to Frank Lampard’s young Chelsea side. The Blues themselves were reportedly considering the defender before they decided to push for Chilwell.
Although the report has clarified that Leicester City are interested in AS Monaco’s Fode Ballo-Toure, whether or not they’re able to beat Manchester United to his signature remains to be seen. It has been suggested that the Midlands club have already begun talks with his representatives over a potential summer transfer.
Despite being contracted to the club for another three seasons, Monaco are said to be willing to accept a bid in the region of £18m for his services. The Ligue 1 side have already signed a replacement in the summer as well, which means that they could be resigned to cashing in on the Frenchman.
What Did Chilwell Offer To This Leicester Team?
The Englishman, over the last couple of seasons, has consistently been one of the best left-backs in the division. Not only does he offer a decent amount of defensive security, but his attacking play is right up there with the best too. The crosses that Chilwell used to deliver from his position on the flank are arguably what helped bring the best out of the likes of Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho last season. Replacing a presence of that magnitude will certainly not be an easy task for Rodgers, but it’s one that he must attempt to achieve before the next league campaign kicks off in under two weeks.
What Is Leicester’s Current Left-Back Situation?
Despite the departure of Chilwell, Brendan Rodgers still has two separate left-back options to choose from in the Leicester squad as things stand, and that is sure to come as a motivating factor to even the most pessimistic of fans. Christian Fuchs is one of the few players remaining in the squad from their remarkable title-winning campaign all those years ago, and despite his rising age, there’s no denying the obvious quality that he brings to the table. 19-year-old Luke Thomas is another player that’s available for selection, having made his league debut for the Foxes last season too.
What Makes Fode Ballo-Toure A Good Option For Leicester?
The 23-year-old French full-back has gradually earned quite the reputation for himself in Ligue 1, having become a regular in this Monaco side over the last few campaigns. Initially a product of the PSG academy, he offers a good amount of attacking intensity, all the while being a good tackler of the ball as well. Strong in one-on-one situations and capable of dealing with crosses into the box because of his height as well, there’s no denying that Ballo-Toure could be supremely well-suited to the gritty and fast-paced action of the Premier League.
Leicester City Are Interested In AS Monaco’s Fode Ballo-Toure: Smart Move For Leicester?
The Foxes were arguably among the biggest surprise packages of the entire season last time around when they rose to third place and looked set to secure it at the end of the season. It took a massive downfall post-lockdown for them to drop out of the Champions League places, and they even had the opportunity to still finish third had results gone their way on the final day of the campaign. Chilwell’s influence on this team could not be underplayed, and his departure will hence have a negative impact. Replacing him ahead of next season is of utmost importance to the Foxes, and Ballo-Toure does seem like a good option at this time.
