Nampalys Mendy Edging Closer to Leicester Exit as Udinese & Trabzonspor Contract Talks Begin
By Dom Smith
Leicester midfielder Nampalys Mendy appears to be heading for King Power Stadium's exit door, with talks underway with both Udinese and Trabzonspor.
Mendy was signed by the Foxes in 2016 as a replacement for the effervescent N’Golo Kanté, but he's failed to command a regular place in the Midlands - enjoying regular game time in just one of his four campaigns since arriving from Nice.
With Wilfred Ndidi becoming one of the Premier League’s most established holding midfielders, Mendy has seen little action under Brendan Rodgers during the 2019/20 season and is beginning to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Le10 Sport report that the 27-year-old and his agent are in advanced talks with Udinese, currently playing in Serie A, and Trabzonspor, who compete in Turkey's top flight.
Mendy's contract at Leicester is due to expire this summer and unless circumstances drastically change over the next few weeks, he'll be released as a free agent.
Should he move to Udinese, he'd join a side who have been struggling in the lower embers of Serie A this season. Currently 14th, I Bianconeri may soon find themselves resuming their battle against relegation as Italy look to kick start their domestic campaigns following a lengthy coronavirus lockdown.
Trabzonspor, meanwhile, recently had former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge on their books, and currently boast one of the continent's most in-form strikers - Crystal Palace loanee Alexander Sørloth, who has bizarrely been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
As far as Leicester go, they have plenty of midfield options at their disposal should Ndidi be ruled out through injury. Matty James, Dennis Praet and Hamza Choudhury are all capable of playing in the holding role if required, while Adrien Silva - who famously was denied Premier League registration after completing a deadline day move 13 seconds too late - is set to return to the club after a loan spell with Monaco.