Premier League champions Leicester City have agreed a £13m fee with French club OGC Nice for their midfielder, Nampalys Mendy, 24. With a similar style to his sought after compatriot, Mendy’s signing has intensified speculation over the future of N’Golo Kante, 25.
The Foxes have faced an unsettling summer with their star players targeted by bigger clubs. They were given hope of retaining the core of their title-winning squad when Jamie Vardy, 29, opted to sign a lucrative four-year deal at the King Power rather than move to Arsenal.
With new money fuelling a Premier League spending spree, Claudio Ranieri has persuaded the Leicester board to offer new deals to Riyad Mahrez, 25, and Kante. Whilst the Algerian has publicly committed his future to the club, Kante made it clear he would consider offers and announce his decision after Euro 2016.
French champions Paris St. Germain are leading the way in the fight for his services but face stiff competition from Chelsea whose new manager, Antonio Conte, is determined to bolster the Blues midfield. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, has also made no secret of his admiration for the player.
Mendy, capped by France at every level up to Under-21’s, is keen to move to the Premier League to raise his profile and follow Kante’s path into the senior squad.
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