“Marti Cifuentes’ Jaw-Dropping Leicester City Masterplan Will Leave You Speechless if Abdul Fatawu Bolts!”

Sunderland have reportedly lodged an opening bid worth £28 million for 21-year-old Abdul Fatawu, according to talkSPORT.

However, Leicester City are unlikely to be pressured into a quick sale, with the winger still having four years left on his current deal.

Everton are also said to be keeping a close eye on Fatawu. Journalist Alan Myers has claimed the Toffees admire the player and have him included on their shortlist of potential targets.

Fatawu was a standout performer during Leicester’s last campaign in the Championship, playing a pivotal role in their promotion push.

The Ghanaian international contributed six goals and registered 13 assists in the league throughout the 2023/24 season, underlining his importance to the side.

Jeremy Monga could soften potential Fatawu departure

Should Leicester lose Fatawu, they may already have a ready-made solution in 16-year-old Jeremy Monga. The youngster has featured ten times across all competitions this season and has already made history.

At just 16 years and 37 days old, Monga became the youngest goalscorer in modern Championship history, following the competition’s rebranding in 2004/05.

Head coach Marti Cifuentes has not been shy in expressing his admiration for the teenager. Speaking after the win over Preston North End, he praised Monga’s attitude and humility, stressing: “He deserves the credit.

He is a talented boy and we are trying to take care of him because he is very humble, and the way he works on the pitch is excellent.”

Monga could emulate Leicester’s academy success stories

Leicester have leaned heavily on academy graduates in recent years, generating more than £120 million in profit through the sales of Ben Chilwell, Harvey Barnes, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Monga appears to be the latest prospect from this production line.

The winger is part of a promising new generation emerging from the club’s £100 million Seagrave training facility.

Leicester Live previously reported that both Chelsea and Manchester City had been competing for his signature before he committed to signing a new deal with the Foxes.

He is not alone in making an impression either. Jake Evans has already appeared for the senior side, while academy product Kasey McAteer told BBC Radio Leicester that both Evans and Monga are destined to “keep getting better and better.”

Cifuentes’ faith in youth development

Cifuentes has consistently underlined his trust in Leicester’s academy. In fact, during his first major interview in Austria, he mentioned the word “academy” no fewer than eight times.

With around 180 young players in the setup and 52 full-time staff dedicated to nurturing them towards first-team football, the infrastructure at Seagrave remains one of the strongest in the country.

However, Leicester still face uncertainty off the pitch. They were charged with breaching the EFL’s financial rules back in May, leaving the possibility of a points deduction hanging over them.

That situation could also prevent the Foxes from bringing in a costly replacement if Fatawu is sold, perhaps explaining why the only addition Cifuentes has made so far is experienced goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.