Steve Cooper make Lincoln City ace and Belgian international defender his first Leicester City signing after deal were accepted
Leicester City are interested in adding some international experience to their defence ahead of the new Premier League season.
New boss Steve Cooper has settled into his new role at the King Power Stadium very quickly, already holding conversations with star player Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
The former Nottingham Forest boss was brought in following the departure of Enzo Maresca to Chelsea, who were impressed with the Italian boss after Leicester City won the Championship title last season.
The Welshman is also looking at retaining the services of Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, who will be crucial for his plans ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Ndidi is currently attracting interest both from Premier League clubs and abroad.
Cooper has also wasted no time in delving into the transfer market, with the club showing their interest in bringing in a Belgian international from a Ligue 1 club, battling for the defender’s signature with Serie A outfit Fiorentina.
Leicester City interested in Rennes star Arthur Theate
Leicester City are working on a deal to bring 24-year-old defender Arthur Theate to the club, with Fiorentina also interested in the Belgian, per Gianluca Di Marzio.
The Belgian has tallied 15 caps for Belgium by the age of 24 and is currently with his nation for the on-going European Championships taking place in Germany.
Theate was an unused sub for Roberto Martinez’s side as they lost 1-0 to Slovakia on Monday.
The defender has amassed three years of top level football following two successive seasons in Ligue 1 with Rennes, as well as a stint in Serie A for the 2021/22 season.
How would Arthur Theate fit into Steve Cooper’s Leicester City XI
Cooper’s likelihood to set up with a back four with the Foxes, as he often did at both Nottingham Forest and Swansea, could see Theate partnered with fellow Belgian international Wout Faes for the 2024/25 Premier League season.
However, with Leicester already having an abundance of options in the centre of defence with the likes of Faes, alongside Harry Souttar, Conor Coady and Jannik Vesergaard, the defender could do a job at left-back, as he has done on several occasions for his nation.
The uncertainty over the future of Danish full-back Victor Kristiansen, who spent the last season on loan at Bologna, could also play a factor in where Theate could be utilised.
This potential signing for Cooper will be the perfect mix of international experience and young talent, as at the age of 24 he could develop into an incredible defender for the Foxes.
Leicester City new boss Steve Cooper was appointed on Thursday, following the departure of Italian boss Enzo Maresca, who earned a move to Chelsea.
Maresca led the Foxes to a 1st place finish in the Championship last season, finishing on 97 points.
Cooper has stamped his authority on the club already, with him set to bring in a new set-piece coach from Norwich City.
