Brendan Rodgers tips Wesley Fofana to become one of the world’s best defenders

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has no doubts that Wesley Fofana can become one of the best central defenders in the world.

The 21-year-old’s second season with the Foxes has been wrecked by a broken leg suffered in a friendly against Villarreal back in August, but he has impressed since returning in March – when he also signed a new five-year contract with the club.

Fofana scored in his first game back – a 2-1 Europa Conference League defeat to Rennes – but has not been on the losing side in any of his six appearances since, the most recent of them coming in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Roma in the Conference League semi-final first leg.

Rodgers found fault with Fofana’s positioning when Roma took a 15th-minute lead as he was too easily drawn towards Nicolo Zaniolo, allowing Lorenzo Pellegrini space to run in behind, receive the ball, and fire under Kasper Schmeichel, but said the ingredients are there for the Frenchman to reach the top.

“He’s really going to be a top player,” Rodgers said. “For the first goal I think he has to learn, he’s still so young. His position for the goal, these are the things he has to develop, but the raw material is absolutely there.

“He’s got the speed, he’s dominant and competitive and that’s so important. Some players have the physicality but they don’t necessarily use it.

“He’s aggressive, he defends forward and once he’s got the positioning he’ll go on to be one of the leading centre-halves in football, I’ve got absolutely no question about that.”

Leicester paid around £30million to sign Fofana from St Etienne in October 2020, despite having not been able to watch him in person amid the pandemic.

But if Rodgers is proven right about Fofana’s development that could soon be seen as a bargain,