Leicester City is reportedly keen on acquiring Royal Antwerp’s midfielder Mandela Keita this summer, according to a Belgian report.
Keita, who has spent the last 18 months on loan at Royal Antwerp, has impressed with his performances in the Jupiler Pro League. Het Laatste Nieuws states that Leicester, along with Stade Rennes and Fiorentina, have expressed ‘concrete interest’ in the 22-year-old Belgian international.
These three clubs are competing for Keita’s signature, but the report does not indicate if Keita has a preference among them.
Royal Antwerp had considered making Keita’s loan move permanent. However, HLN notes that both the player and the club are open to parting ways during this transfer window, though the exact transfer fee remains unclear.
Over the weekend, Keita came off the bench in Royal Antwerp’s 1-0 league victory over Royal Charleroi. Following the match, Antwerp manager Jonas De Roeck acknowledged that the midfielder is focused on a potential transfer.
“It is human that boys who have transfer concerns have a more difficult time. Then it is sometimes important to protect them,” De R
oeck said, as quoted by HLN.
This development could be encouraging for Leicester, Stade Rennes, and Fiorentina as they vie for Keita’s services.
