Wesley Fofana: Signs For LCFC

[car1os]

Just watching the obligatory YouTube video - tall, quick, good with his right foot (very keen on long passes, Vards will love him) and not bad with his head.  Impressed, should be a good signing and lots of potential.  
 

But then again I was impressed with Hossain Kiebi’s YouTube video, so I’ll wait until I watch him play!!

[Grebfromgrebland]

24 minutes ago, urban fox said:

Puels  comments re playing poker to get the best price are exactly what we all knew was going on. It was always going to happen it was just haggling. TBF they played us quite well, and saved face with their fans by making it look like they rinsed us. Seems from some reports that we didn’t pay as much as was claimed (bit like the YT deal). Would not be surprised if we agreed to go along with it to smooth the process and possibly pave the way for a loan deal for Benkovic or other future deals.

I think a lot of this stuff goes on behind the scenes where clubs and players play the game so everyone looks good in the end and comes out smelling of roses.

 

 

[RizLCFC]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/10/02/leicester-city-sign-wesley-fofana-32m-saint-etienne-five-year/
 

Can someone post the article?

[Foxxed]

5 hours ago, Bourbon Fox said:

I don't get this, what's the connection?

Someone in the transfer thread claimed they were talking to a French journalist who said the reason Fofona wanted to come to Leicester was related to nationality. They said Fofana was in fact, as opposed to reported, from the Ivory Coast, and there’s some mystery around his parentage. And where’s Kolo from? The Ivory Coast. And the reason Fofona really wanted to come here was because he wanted to be nearer Papa Kolo. I have no idea if it’s true. But as another poster said “This is straight from the cobbles of weatherfield”. I love it. We’ve got Kolo Touré lovechild in defence and I refuse to believe anything else!

[StriderHiryu]

17 minutes ago, RizLCFC said:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/10/02/leicester-city-sign-wesley-fofana-32m-saint-etienne-five-year/
 

Can someone post the article?

Brendan Rodgers is backing new signing Wesley Fofana to prove himself as a £30million "bargain" after passing his audition against Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.

Fofana has completed his move from Saint-Etienne to Leicester and arrives with a huge reputation at the age of 19, despite making only 26 appearances for the French club.

 

The centre-half has been on Leicester's radar for some time and signed a five-year deal with the Premier League leaders on Friday after passing a medical.

Fofana is viewed as one for both this season and the future, with Rodgers revealing how the teenager's performance against Paris St-Germain in last season's Coupe de France final convinced Leicester to act.

“He was outstanding in that final. This is what you are measuring his talent against - the top players he was playing against," said the Leicester manager.

 

"There were clubs all across Europe interested in taking him, so that shows you the level he’s at. But thankfully the club have been brilliant, acted very quickly, got in and eventually were able to do a deal.

"You see it now across the Premier League, you see some of the young players aged 18 or 19 and the valuations that are on them. 

"But this may in the next number of years look a bargain because I think this boy is a big talent and hopefully we can develop him into being an even bigger talent."

Leicester have won three league games in a row this season under Rodgers and return to action on Sunday with a home game against West Ham

 

 

 

^ Here is a video highlights clip of the coupe de france final. I didn't see the game live but saw extended highlights. One of ASSE's players got sent off early on, but Fofana almost single handedly kept his team in it. That match alone probably increased his price tag by 10m or so, because he showed he could deal with Neymar and Mbappe. In an era where the most dangerous players tend to be the very fast and skilfull ones (Salah, Mane, Mahrez, Sterling, etc), having defenders that can deal with them is worth it's weight in gold, or in this case 30m quid.

 

No idea if Fofana is the real deal or not but I can see exactly why the club invested in him. He defends in the same style as Soyuncu, IE wins the ball back early via proactive tackling. That allows us to play a high line and maintain the high press, which as Liverpool show time and time again, is a deadly combination when executed well.

 

 

 

[NaijaFox]

https://www.lcfc.com/news/1850364/soldier-fofana-proud-to-be-a-fox/featured

 

 

[brucey]

21 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

In an era where the most dangerous players tend to be the very fast and skilfull ones (Salah, Mane, Mahrez, Sterling, etc), having defenders that can deal with them is worth it's weight in gold, or in this case 30m quid.

75 kg in gold is about £3.6m, so he’s actually worth 10 times his weight in gold. 

[moore_94]

Fofana spoke to L'Equipe about the move

 

Wesley Fofana: “I will not forget that it is thanks to Puel that I am where I am today.”

 

Speaking to L’Équipe, 19-year-old central defender Wesley Fofana gave his first media interview since completing a €40m move from St Étienne to Leicester City.

 

How did your first moments with Leicester City go?

Well, even if I was in the end not able to train with the squad yesterday. After the COVID test that I did in Frankfurt, I was due to do it again with other players. I was not able to, so I trained separately.

 

Is it a relief to sign for Leicester?

Yes, because it was what I wanted. Things were long and hard but it finished well. Now, I am ready to work. I didn’t do all this for nothing.

 

Were you worried that the transfer wouldn’t happen?

A little. The coach (Claude Puel) stayed very closed during our discussions. I held onto a little bit of hope even if I was telling myself that it wasn’t going to happen. I was disappointed but ready to do the season with St Étienne. And then, Monday afternoon, I learned that things were sorted when I left training.

 

Are you parting ways with Claude Puel on good terms?

I sent him a message after the move was made official to say to him that despite the final days not being the best between us, I will not forget that it is thanks to him that I am where I am today.

 

Did Puel respond to you?

Yes, saying that he wanted to keep me but that he accepted my decision. He is proud of me. It is fantastic. I am not leaving annoyed with the coach. The club had needs and I am leaving whilst providing them with a lot of money. Everyone is happy. I did not want to leave in a battle situation against the club that made me. It gave me everything since I have been 14. I know that I can call him if I need to. And vice versa.

 

Why Leicester?

There were a lot of others. Whilst they are maybe not the biggest club, they are a great club where I can play, improve more and 100% enjoy myself. They showed me that they would do everything for me to come. Speaking to the manager Brendan Rodgers and Kolo Touré, his assistant, counted a lot in my decision. I was welcomed in the best of ways. I am sure that I have made the right decision.

 

You have also just been called up for the France U21s for the first time.

It was something that I was waiting for, but without getting too full of myself. The coach did not want me to be selected the time before, because of my knee. I spoke about it with him. I was disappointed but I understand. Now, I am with the U21s, I have to work to stay there. The same with Leicester. The Premier League is of a very, very high level.

 

Do you feel ready to start for the Foxes on Sunday against West Ham?

I was spoken to a bit about it today (yesterday). They know at the club that I am ready. My knee tendon, I am dealing with it. It does not bother me much.

 

The situation that William Saliba is facing, barred by competition at Arsenal, does that not worry you?

No, because we are very close. I call him before each match and if he says to me that he is not playing, I do not watch. He was injured a lot last season and the coach in place at Arsenal (Mikel Arteta) is not the one who signed him. I say to myself that this could happen to me. “Wil” is a super player. He will overcome this. We know that we are capable of succeeding in the Premier League.

[brucey]

 

[norwichfox]

He has a very high pitched voice....

[whoareyaaa]

were gonna win the league

[fuchsntf]

14 hours ago, RumbleFox said:

I’m an idiot. His name is Wes. Goodnight. X 

Ahhh Rumble..Dont demean, or lower yourself...this is foxestalk....we are always Happy to oblige.....We'll do it or you..!!

Good morning..x

Edited 3 October 2020 by fuchsntf

[Deeg67]

Puel is great at developing young players.  They know it, and we've benefited from it even if our fans can't see it.

[SecretPro]

6 minutes ago, whoareyaaa said:

were gonna win the league

Already done and dusted.

[NaijaFox]

37 minutes ago, norwichfox said:

He has a very high pitched voice....

Impeccable English though.

[davieG]

William Saliba Situation Did Not Worry Me, We Will Succeed – Wesley Fofana
03/10/2020 - 11:08 BST

INSIDE FUTBOL

https://insidefutbol.com/2020/10/03/william-saliba-situation-did-not-worry-me-we-will-succeed-wesley-fofana/475626/

 

Leicester City new boy Wesley Fofana has insisted that William Saliba’s struggles at Arsenal did not come into his thinking before he decided to sign for the Foxes.

Fofana pushed for the move away from Saint-Etienne and Leicester finally got their hands on the 19-year-old centre-back for a transfer fee of €40m.

Leicester have high hopes from the young defender and Fofana has followed his former Saint-Etienne team-mate Saliba and moved to the Premier League at an early stage of his career.

Saliba spent last season on loan at Saint-Etienne, but has so far failed to make a senior appearance for Arsenal and is tipped to be loaned out before Monday’s deadline.

Fofana is not worried about the struggles his former team-mate has encountered in England under a new manager and pointed out that he is coming back from a difficult season where he suffered due to injuries.

The Leicester new boy conceded that he could also face teething problems in England, but believes both he and Saliba are good enough to go on and succeed in the Premier League.

Asked if Saliba’s struggles are a cause for concern for him, Fofana told French sports daily L’Equipe: “No, because we are very close.

“I call him before every game and if he tells me he is not playing, I don’t watch the game.

“He was injured a lot last season and the incumbent Arsenal coach is not the one who signed him.

“I tell myself that it can happen to me as well.

“Will is a great player.

“He will get up and we know we are capable of winning in the Premier League.”

It remains to be seen whether Fofana makes his debut when Leicester host West Ham at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.

[majaco]

He cost a lot of money but I am excited about his potential.  Impressive in highlights in the French Cup final. Some good stuff in the interviews; personally, I find it warming that he and Puel exchanged positive messages.

 

Perhaps we are monitoring the Saliba situation.

[baldeagle]

Reading those interviews and watching that video iI think he comes across very  well and mature . Obviously had his differences  at the end with Puel but was mature enough to  text him and  thank him  a lot of older players wouldn’t  even do that . 

[RonnieTodger]

3 hours ago, moore_94 said:

Why Leicester?

There were a lot of others. Whilst they are maybe not the biggest club, they are a great club where I can play, improve more and 100% enjoy myself. They showed me that they would do everything for me to come. Speaking to the manager Brendan Rodgers and Kolo Touré, his assistant, counted a lot in my decision. I was welcomed in the best of ways. I am sure that I have made the right decision.

Get rid

[Clever Fox]

10 minutes ago, baldeagle said:

Reading those interviews and watching that video iI think he comes across very  well and mature . Obviously had his differences  at the end with Puel but was mature enough to  text him and  thank him  a lot of older players wouldn’t  even do that . 

Yes, It shows a lot of class from a lad so young.

[Collymore]

7 hours ago, norwichfox said:

He has a very high pitched voice....

Only at at Leicester City would this happen.

 

I don't think I've ever heard the wrong gender dubbed in even the lowest budget show on any media platform, ever. 

 

Totally ridiculous that video.

[Cadno'r Cymoedd]

7 hours ago, norwichfox said:

He has a very high pitched voice....

Tight shorts

[mozartfox]

Brilliant signing.  So happy with this.  No more tippy tappy side to side.  Well done recruitment and  Rudders!!!!

[Denenden]

You guys try to sneak in top 3 PL this year? Excellent signing. I am excited to follow you.

[don_danbury]

does rodgers speak french?