Diop deal could close the door on Lookman
CITY REPORTED TO BE LEADING DORTMUND AND NICE IN RACE FOR MONACO WINGER
LEICESTER City’s pursuit of Monaco winger Sofiane Diop would place doubt over a permanent move for Ademola Lookman as the club look to sign two widemen this summer.
City are said to be leading Borussia Dortmund and Nice in the hunt for Diop, with L’Equipe reporting they have made approaches over a potential deal.
They add that no formal offer has yet been put forward.
Diop looks likely to leave Monaco this summer after his game time reduced under new manager Philippe Clement and with Takumi Minamino signed from Liverpool in recent weeks.
Diop played just 68 minutes in Monaco’s final 10 Ligue 1 games of last season.
If City were to push to sign Diop, it would suggest they have moved on from Lookman,
with both players at home on the left flank.
In an ideal transfer window, City would be signing a firstchoice star for the right wing – a player who can cut inside and make a difference from central positions – while adding competition for Harvey Barnes on the left side.
It is understood City were keen on bringing Lookman back to the club, with a permanent switch from RB Leipzig costing £14 million.
He is seen as an alternative to Barnes, a player who offers quick feet and intricate dribbling skills in tight spaces rather than the blistering pace and direct approach of the academy graduate. However, that deal was not seen as a priority for City this summer, but one they had hoped to do after other areas had been strengthened.
A left-footed centre-back, a box-to-box midfielder, and a right-sided winger were the three positions understood to be the priorities.
Lookman, above, is now back training at Leipzig, and while their manager Domenico Tedesco has said he will give the club’s returning loanees a chance to prove themselves, it is unclear where the winger would fit in.
Tedesco is committed to a backthree shape, with wing-backs providing the width in the team.
As such, Lookman is expected to be available, and at £14 million would likely be cheaper than Diop.
Lookman has two years left on his contract at Leipzig, while Diop has four years to run on his deal at Monaco.
Diop has similar attributes to Lookman, and ranks highly for successful dribbles and progressive passes.
His goal involvement rate last season was slightly better too. The Frenchman registered a combined 16 goals and assists in 45 appearances, compared to 13 in 41 for Lookman on loan at City.
The only way City would recruit both Diop and Lookman was if the former was seen as an option for the right wing.
While the 22-year-old played on the left most often last season, he has spent a good chunk of his four years at Monaco on the right side.
Other reported targets for the right-wing role have been leftfooted players like Club Brugge’s Charles De Ketelaere and PSV’s Noni Madueke.
City finished last season with James Maddison playing on the right.
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