Following their relegations from the Premier League, both Ipswich Town and Leicester City have lost players who played sizeable roles in their teams’ last campaign.
This has led to both sides becoming interested in a Manchester City man who is so neglected by the Cityzens that he is not even listed as a player on their official club website.
Ipswich Town and Leicester City Interested In Issa Kaboré
As per Ben Jacobs, Ipswich and Leicester, as well as Hamburger SV and Paris FC, are interested in signing Manchester City right-back Issa Kaboré.
The Cityzens would reportedly prefer to sell the Burkina Faso international, who is now 24 years of age, but would also be open to loaning him out once again.
If Kaboré were to leave Manchester on a temporary basis, it would be the seventh time that he has left the club on loan.
He signed for Pep Guardiola’s team in 2020 after showing promise for KV Mechelen, instantly being loaned back to the Belgian side for the 2020/21 campaign.
The following two seasons saw the defender play in Ligue 1, first for City’s affiliate club Troyes, and then for Marseille. The Bobo-Dioulasso-born man made four appearances in the Champions League for the latter side.
His first loan spell in England came with Luton Town in the 2023/24 season. Kaboré played 24 league games for Rob Edwards’ side, but was unable to save them from relegation from the top flight.
Last season, the 24-year-old struggled. He initially joined Benfica, but played just seven times for the Portuguese giants before being recalled and sent to Werder Bremen, where he started just three league games for the German side.
Which English Club Would Be The Best Fit For Kaboré?
As previously mentioned, both Ipswich and Leicester have lost right-backs who played a sizeable number of games for them last season.
Axel Tuanzebe has left Portman Road to join Burnley, whilst James Justin has swapped Leicester for Leeds United.
Marti Cifuentes has opted to start Hamza Choudhury on the right-hand side of defence in Justin’s absence. Ricardo Pereira and Woyo Coulibaly, who is naturally left-footed but can play on the right, are still at the King Power Stadium.
Ben Johnson has started all of Ipswich’s Championship games at right-back, but Kieran McKenna has signed veteran defender Ashley Young this summer, and Harry Clarke is due to return from injury in the next few weeks.
Overall, Leicester looks to be a slightly better destination for Kaboré. Choudhury likes to play as an inverted full-back, whilst Pereira and Coulibaly do not seem to be trusted by Cifuentes.
The 24-year-old is more of a traditional swashbuckling full-back who will offer a different option to Choudhury.
Ipswich have already invested money in a new right-back this summer by signing Young and Clarke was an important part of the Tractor Boys’ previous promotion to the Premier League, meaning that McKenna may look to utilise him when he gets fit.
An initial loan deal with an obligation to buy if the Foxes win promotion would make good financial sense for both parties.