Premier League club leading race to sign 21-year-old Chelsea attacker: Reports

Newly promoted Premier League club Leicester City are reportedly in pole position to rope in Chelsea star David Datro Fofana this summer.

Fofana, 21, has struggled to establish himself in the Blues' first-team since arriving from Norwegian side Molde FK for around £10 million in the winter of 2023. He has made just four appearances for his club.

Last campaign, the Ivorian forward was initially sent out on loan to Bundesliga club Union Berlin. After netting just twice in 17 games for the German team, he returned to the west London outfit in January 2024.

Fofana, whose Chelsea deal will expire in 2029, secured a short-term loan move to Burnley in the last winter transfer window. He contributed four goals and one assist in 15 Premier League games for the Clarets.

Now, according to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Fofana is again expected to leave Chelsea on loan this summer. The Blues are hoping to include an obligation-to-buy clause in any potential loan transfer.

Leicester, who lifted the EFL Championship title past season, are currently leading the transfer race to sign the right-footed striker. Villarreal and VfB Stuttgart are also keen to sign the ex-Molde man.

Should Fofana join Leicester on a temporary switch this summer, he could emerge as a vital starter for them. He would provide great competition to Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka in the number nine role.

Chelsea slammed for pursuing teenager

Speaking to Belgian daily Het Nieuwsblad, ex-Belgium star Franky Van der Elst hit out at Chelsea for eyeing a move to sign KRC Genk goalkeeper Mike Penders this summer. He said (h/t HITC):

"To read right after his first official match for Genk that he is on his way to Chelsea, and for such an amount, that is shocking. [This sort of transfer activity is] unprecedented. Maybe even unheard of. What [they] are doing now... buying, buying, buying and then hoping that one of the many transfers will pay off – I really do not think is good for football."

Opining on the Blues' recent transfer activity, Van der Elst continued:

"[They] have seven or eight goalkeepers, right? They just paid [around £21 million] for Filip Jorgensen; also a young goalkeeper, but three years older than Penders and already a first-team player at Villarreal for a season. So he will definitely have priority in the near future."

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Enzo Maresca's side are close to finalising a deal worth over £17 million to sign Penders this summer.

So far, the 19-year-old has kept one shutout in two games for Genk.