Leicester have ‘concrete interest’ in signing – Manager indicates player wants transfer

Leicester City are one of the clubs in the picture to sign Royal Antwerp’s Mandela Keita this summer, according to a report from Belgium.

The midfielder was on loan at the Jupiler Pro League side for the last 18 months and his displays for them haven’t gone unnoticed.

Het Laatste Nieuws claim Leicester, Stade Rennes and Fiorentina have all shown ‘concrete interest’ to secure the 22-year-old’s services this summer.

The three clubs are set to battle it out for the Belgium international’s signature, and the report makes no mention of his preference among the Foxes and two other teams.

Royal Antwerp would have made the player’s stay permanent. HLN say both Keita and the Belgian club are open to parting ways in this window, but they aren’t aware of the fee needed to convince his employer.

At the weekend, he came off the bench in his side’s 1-0 league win over Royal Charleroi. After the tie, Royal Antwerp manager Jonas De Roeck stated that the midfielder’s focused on securing a move to another club.

“It is human that boys who have transfer concerns have a more difficult time. Then it is sometimes important to protect them,” he said, as quoted by HLN.

This could please Leicester, Stade Rennes and Fiorentina, and it remains to be seen who will win the battle for Keita’s signature.