Leicester City set to complete signing of forward for a seven-figure fee

Stephy Mavididi is poised to finalize his switch to the King Power Stadium over the weekend

Leicester City are closing in on yet another signing as part of their big summer rebuild under new head coach Enzo Maresca.

The former Man City assistant manager has taken on the responsibility of trying to guide the Foxes back to the Premier League for the first time of asking following last season’s relegation, but he’s had to see many senior players depart both for fees and on free transfers.

James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Youri Tielemans, Jonny Evans, and many others have all departed the King Power Stadium in recent months, but not only has it reduced the wage bill dramatically but they have raked in the best part of £78 million in transfer fees.

City are committed to trying to win promotion in 2023-24 from the Championship and has 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 center-back Callum Doyle on loan.

One area that Leicester are yet to strengthen in though is in their attacking areas, and with the losses of Maddison, Barnes, and Ayoze Perez, more depth and quality are needed in the final third.

A target that the club has seemingly had on their radar for a number of weeks is that of Stephy Mavididi of French outfit Montpellier, but as of yet, a deal has yet to be confirmed.

What is the latest on Leicester’s interest in Stephy Mavididi?

However, Leicester looks like they are now going to get a deal over the line for the versatile 25-year-old forward.

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 take 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-23s 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?

With Maresca seemingly adopting a 4-3-3 formation this season in his first year in charge, Mavididi will more than likely slot in on the left flank as a direct replacement for Barnes.

Youngster Wanya Marcal-Madivadua has been featuring in pre-season in that role but it may be better if the teenager is eased into competitive action seeing as though he is just 20 years of age and has played just one competitive match.

Mavididi did come through the ranks at Arsenal as a striker, but he adapted to play on the left of a front three more often than not at Montpellier, so that is most likely where he’s going to feature under Maresca with Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka battling it out to be the starting striker.