Three Chelsea players named as potential Leicester City signings in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall deal

David Datro Fofana or Cesare Casadei could move to Leicester City as part of a deal for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, it has been reported.

City could sell their star midfielder before Sunday as they try to comply with the Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and avoid further breaches. But while a deal with Brighton reportedly collapsed due to Dewsbury-Hall’s refusal to move to the Seagulls, Chelsea offered him a way out by making a late bid.

The Brighton transfer was said to include a player swap, with Poland international Jakub Moder heading the other way. It would have been the latest in a series of mutually beneficial ‘swap’ deals between Premier League clubs rushing to meet the PSR.

READ MORE: Why Leicester City would like to transfer Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall swap as deadline approaches

READ MORE: Join our Leicester City WhatsApp group to get transfer news straight to your phone

Now three names have emerged as potential candidates to head to Chelsea’s King Power Stadium should Dewsbury-Hall make the move to Stamford Bridge. One of them will be very familiar to City supporters, with Casadei having been on loan at the club for the first half of last season.

The Italian midfielder made a bright start, scoring a last-minute winner against Cardiff, but then struggled for a few months. Just as he appeared to be settling into his role in Enzo Maresca’s side and with a good run of games ahead of him amid Wilfred Ndidi’s injury, he was recalled by Chelsea, playing less than 90 minutes for the rest of the season under Mauricio Pochettino.

If Dewsbury-Hall leaves, City will be short of central midfielders, with Dennis Praet also set to leave this summer and Wilfred Ndidi could also leave. They would only have Harry Winks, Hamza Choudhury and Boubakary Soumare as options in the center of the park for Steve Cooper.

Fofana and Armando Broja, meanwhile, are strikers. Fofana spent the first season on loan with Union Berlin last season, playing in the Champions League, before moving to Burnley for the second half of the campaign after a difficult spell in Germany. At Turf Moor, Fofana scored four goals in 15 Premier League outings but it was not enough to keep the Clarets at bay.

The 21-year-old first joined Chelsea in an £11m switch from Molde in January 2023. He scored 22 goals in 39 games in his last season for the Norwegian club.

Broja has just finished representing Albania at the Euros after a goalless campaign. He impressed on loan at Southampton in 2021-22, scoring nine times in all competitions. He was welcomed back into the Chelsea first team on his return, but midway through the campaign, he suffered a torn ACL.

Back in action last season, the 22-year-old scored twice in 19 appearances for Chelsea before moving to Fulham for the second half of the campaign. At Craven Cottage, he failed to score in eight outings.

Unless Cooper plans to play with two up front, any move for a striker would likely see one of City’s current trio leave. Jamie Vardy will stay after signing a one-year deal this summer, but Patson Daka could be sold or Tom Cannon could be loaned out.

Would you be interested in Fofana or Casadei joining City? Let us know in the comments section below.