Leicester City 'meet' with Italian transfer chief to discuss deal

Leicester City officials met with Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio in London this week to discuss Caglar Soyuncu, according to a report in Italy.

The Italian giants' transfer chief had reportedly flown to London for talks with Chelsea over a deal for Romelu Lukaku, but also spoke to Leicester while in the country. It is widely accepted that at least one of Inter's three first-choice centre-backs will leave this summer, and they have identified Soyuncu as a potential replacement.

That's according to Italian newspaper La Gazetta dello Sport, who say Ausilio asked Leicester about Soyuncu's availability in the summer transfer window - which officially opened yesterday. Soyuncu is understood to be one of several Leicester players who could leave the club this summer, with Youri Tielemans' departure to Arsenal also looking likely.

The Turkish defender has made 123 appearances for City across all competitions since joining from Freiburg in the summer of 2018. He signed a five-year contract upon his arrival and has not since renewed, meaning his deal is due to expire in the summer of 2023.

For Inter, they are said to be eyeing either Soyuncu or Borussia Dortmund's Manuel Akanji this summer. Their chosen defender will replace one of Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij or Alessandro Bastoni.

Leicester, meanwhile, are prioritising a left-sided centre-half, very much in the mould of Wesley Fofana, during the summer window. Chelsea's Levi Colwill, who excelled on loan at Huddersfield last season aged just 18, is among the players to have already been linked.