Leicester City are on the verge of completing yet another acquisition as part of their major summer overhaul under new head coach Enzo Maresca.
Following last season’s relegation, the former Manchester City assistant manager has taken on the burden of guiding the Foxes back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, but he’s had to see numerous key players move for fees and on free transfers.
James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Youri Tielemans, Jonny Evans, and others have all left the King Power Stadium in recent months, but not only has this cut the wage bill significantly, but it has also resulted in a £78 million transfer price.
City are committed in trying to win promotion in 2023-24 from the Championship and have added England international experience in the form of Conor Coady and Harry Winks on permanent deals, as well as bringing in young Brondby goalkeeper Mads Hermansen for around £5 million and Man City centre-back Callum Doyle on loan.
Leicester, on the other hand, have yet to reinforce in their offensive areas, and with the departures of Maddison, Barnes, and Ayoze Perez, more depth and quality in the last third is required.
Stephy Mavididi of French club Montpellier is a target that the club appears to have had on their radar for a number of weeks, although a deal has yet to be finalised.
What is the latest on Leicester City’s pursuit of Stephy Mavididi?
Leicester, on the other hand, appear to be closing close on a deal for the versatile 25-year-old attacker.
According to respected journalist Fabrizio Romano, a deal has been agreed between City and Montpellier for Mavididi’s services, in which Leicester will pay €7.5 million (£6.4 million) for the Derby-born attacker.
Montpellier will also retain a sell-on clause for any future move that Mavididi may make away from Leicester in the future, and he is set to undergo a medical on Saturday before being announced as the Foxes’ latest addition.
Mavididi is a graduate of Arsenal’s academy but failed to make a first-team appearance for the Gunners, taking in loan spells at Charlton Athletic and Preston North End before being sold to Juventus in 2018.
He played primarily for their under-23’s but did make one Serie A appearance for the first team before being loaned to Dijon in 2019.
Mavididi then joined Montpellier permanently a year later for €6.3 million – which means they’ll make a small profit on his sale – and in three years he scored 21 times in 96 appearances.
Where will Stephy Mavididi fit in at Leicester?
Mavididi will almost certainly slot in on the left wing as a direct replacement for Barnes this season, with Maresca seemingly favoring a 4-3-3 shape in his first year in command.
Wanya Marcal-Madivadua has been playing in that capacity in pre-season, but given that he is only 20 years old and has only played one competitive match, it may be best if the teenager is eased into competitive action.
Mavididi came through the ranks at Arsenal as a striker, but he adapted to playing on the left of a front three more often than not at Montpellier, so that is most likely where he will feature under Maresca, with Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka vying for the starting spot.
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