According to reports, Leicester City have agreed on a move for Paris Saint-Germain’s young striker Alassane Meite. The 17-year-old will arrive at King Power Stadium on a three-year-deal after he apparently impressed the scouts on his trial.
Leicester City were quite reluctant in getting players up from the academy last season due to their dire straits but now with all expectations more or less vaporized, manager Craig Shakespeare just might let some of his youngsters take the field.
The Foxes have already brought in three players this summer after their disappointing campaign in the league. Elkin Jakupovic and Harry Maguire have come from just relegated side Hull City and Vicente Iborra has come from La Liga side Sevilla. Former manager Claudio Ranieri had experienced a disastrous transfer window last season, which almost all the new arrivals failing.
Neither the injured Nampalys Mendy nor the inconsistent Stephen Ndidi could be the proper replacement for the departed N’Golo Kante and Islam Slimani could hardly help Jamie Vardy up front. Shakespeare’s buys haven’t been so exciting if compared and even if Meite decides to join, the dazzling youngster isn’t expected to break into the first team on a regular basis.
He featured for the Leicester Under 19s while on his trial in the Generali Cee Cup in Prague under the guidance of coach Trevor Peake. And if reports are to be believed the Leicester youth coach was quite impressed with the player.
Though at 17, Meite’s position isn’t quite concrete and coaches mostly use him when and where needed, the player can play almost anywhere in the attacking third, especially from the wide areas. PSG have been quite aware of his talent but have failed to get him to agree on professional terms so far as first team chances there seems way tougher than Leicester City.
Though PSG has seen the likes of Presnel Kimpembe, Adrien Rabiot and Marco Verratti emerging in the side, Unai Emery’s mad spending spree and still failing no more leaves space for youngsters in the squad. Leicester, on the other hand, had called the likes of Solihull’s Tyrese Shade and Tyler French from Sudbury on trial.
The Foxes are on the verge of losing star forward Riyad Mahrez this summer with Serie A giants AC Milan hot on his heels. English giants Arsenal is one of the Algerian International’s preferred destination. However, Leicester City’s asking price of £50m has been a hindrance so far.
