Latest Leicester City transfer news from LeicestershireLive as fellow relegated side are linked with move for Hamza Choudhury
Enzo Maresca ‘wants’ to keep Hamza Choudhury at Leicester City this summer, despite reported interest from Championship rivals Southampton.
Choudhury has returned to the City squad this summer after spending last season on loan with Championship side Watford. During that time he played 36 times in the Championship.
The academy graduate has been part of the City squad for pre-season, where he has been working with Maresca as the new manager implements his style of play.
According to Sky Sports , Southampton are ‘interested’ in a potential summer move for Choudhury, with manager Russell Martin a ‘long time admirer’ of the player. They could however come up against resistance from City.
The report adds that Maresca sees the midfielder as a ‘key part of his plans’ for the upcoming season. City are also said to be looking at possibly offering Choudhury a new deal with the club.
City activated a clause to extend the midfielder’s contract until 2024 before sending him out on loan, but that does mean his current deal has just a year to run.
The 25-year-old broke into the City first team towards the end of the 2017/18 campaign. He has made a total of 24 appearances for the club in both the Premier League and in European competitions.
Choudhury has featured in all three of City’s pre-season games so far. He was named on the bench for Sunday’s postponed friendly against Tottenham in Thailand, but could feature in a behind-closed doors friendly against Port FC on Wednesday.
