Leicester City are reportedly leading the race to sign Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana as he gets set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
Stuttgart and Villarreal have also been named as suitors for the Ivory Coast international, but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says City are his most likely destination. The 21-year-old is due to leave Chelsea on loan this summer, possibly with an obligation to buy, and has been left off the club’s pre-season tour to the US while he sorts his future.
Fofana was first linked to City at the time of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s move to Chelsea as one of the players who could be heading the other way. In the end, City signed young midfielder Michael Golding.
Last season, Fofana spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Burnley, scoring four goals in 15 outings, a tally that could not help them stay up. Before that, he was with Union Berlin, playing in the Champions League, but struggling to make an impact.
He first joined Chelsea in an £11m switch from Molde in January 2023. He scored 22 goals in 39 games in his final season for the Norwegian club.
City manager Steve Cooper has been coy over a striker signing this summer. His answer on the matter suggested he would like one, but was wary of upsetting Patson Daka and Tom Cannon in case it was a deal City were not able to do.
Jamie Vardy could be City’s main man up front this season, but has played less than an hour of pre-season football, with just one friendly to go before the competitive campaign begins. Daka is on course to start against Tottenham as things stand, with the signing of a new striker likely to signal a loan exit for Cannon to the Championship, where there are plenty of interested clubs.