Leicester City are reportedly interested in signing Marseille defender Chancel Mbemba.
The 30-year-old was a key part of the plans for the South-coast club during the 2023-24 term, featuring in 40 contests across all competitions.
However, Mbemba has been frozen out of the current first-team scene at Marseille, failing to play a part in a competitive match for his side this season.
Regular watchers of the Premier League will remember the centre-back from his playing days at Newcastle United, for whom he was a fringe member of the squad during the club's Mike Ashley era.
Mbemba turned out on 59 occasions for the Magpies between 2015 and 2018, including 12 appearances in the Championship under Rafa Benitez in 2016-17.
© Imago
Leicester want Marseille outcast Mbemba?
According to Africa Foot, Leicester are eyeing up the services of a new defender during the upcoming January transfer window as they aim to avoid the drop.
The report states that the relegation-threatened Foxes are considering a move for the services of Marseille man Mbemba, who is hurtling towards a New Year departure.
One of the highest-paid players for Les Olympiens despite his lack of game time, the Ligue 1 club supposedly want to get rid of the defender at all costs.
Leicester are not alone in their fondness of the 30-year-old, though, with both Rennes and Nantes of the French top flight seeing bids rejected for the former Newcastle star.
Mbemba's current deal at Stade Velodrome expires during the summer, meaning that the January window represents the final opportunity for Marseille to earn money off the departure of the Congo international.
© Imago
Leicester searching for defensive answers
After conceding three during the defeat at Anfield against Liverpool on Boxing Day, Leicester have now shipped 40 goals across their opening 18 Premier League matches.
The Foxes have the joint-worst defensive record in the top flight alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers, a relegation rival who have shown shoots of recovery under the leadership of new head coach Vitor Pereira.
Since joining at the beginning of December, Ruud van Nistelrooy has implemented a new centre-back pairing, with Conor Coady trusted to partner Jannik Vestergaard.
However, with the goals continuing to fly into the Foxes net at an alarming rate, the Championship holders could have no option but to dip into the mid-season market for a new defender.
Carter White
