Signed from Marseille Consolat (the city’s lesser known team), Umut Bozok has been a revelation in Ligue 2 this season.
Originally purchased for around €150k, the 21-year-old striker has helped Nimes return to Ligue 1 for the first time since 1993 thanks to his 24 goals in 35 league games.
This ability to put the ball in the back of the net has seen the French side slap a rather expensive price tag on him (at least, in their eyes) to try and keep him around next season: €10m.
However, Mercato365 report that a couple of clubs are intrigued by the Turkey U21 international, including Leicester City.
According to the French website, the Foxes ‘recently supervised’ the forward, most likely as part of their preparations for the upcoming transfer window.
With Islam Slimani, Leonardo Ulloa, Jamie Vardy, Shinji Okazaki, Fousseni Diabaté, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa still all technically contracted to the club, one could easily ask the question: “Why another striker?”
Maybe because, even with all that firepower, Riyad Mahrez is still the club’s second top scorer after Jamie Vardy, and he’s probably on his way out in the summer.
Someone needs to step up to help Jamie Vardy share some of the responsibility and, so far, no one appears to come close.
We expect a quick fire sale in the summer, and perhaps Umut Bozok is one of the names set to rejuvenate Claude Puel’s frontline.
