The January transfer window is fast approaching and Leicester City could look to strengthen to aid their Premier League survival bid.
Leicester City captured nine players during the most recent summer transfer window.
Some of those signings have since flourished following their arrival at the King Power Stadium, including Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte, who the Foxes want to sign permanently.
While a deal for Buonanotte may not be possible, as the Seagulls see him as a long-term part of their plans, Steve Cooper is already looking at a different attacking midfielder heading into the January transfer window.
Leicester City join Atletico Madrid in transfer race for Ibrahim Maza
In their bid to add more firepower and creativity in forward areas, Leicester have already been linked with a loan move for Bayern Munich wonderkid Mathys Tel.
The 19-year-old, meanwhile, isn’t the only talent Cooper is looking to prise from Germany, as the Foxes have also joined the race to land Hertha Berlin attacking midfielder Ibrahim Maza.
According to AS, Leicester are among several clubs interested in the 18-year-old, including Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, Premier League rivals Brentford and French side Marseille.
The report claims that the above clubs are keeping a close eye on his progression, after watching the Algerian score three goals and assist twice in 12 Bundesliga 2 appearances.
Hertha are accepting that Maza could leave, either in January or next summer, with his current contract expiring in 2027.
What Ibrahim Maza would bring to Leicester City
Leicester are very familiar with another Algerian playmaker in time gone past, as Riyad Mahrez dazzled defences and helped the Foxes win the Premier League before sealing a lucrative move to Manchester City.
Supporters will be hoping that should a deal be completed for Maza, he could follow in similar footsteps to Mahrez by becoming the silky metronome that Cooper craves between the lines.
As per talent scout Jacek Kulig, Maza is an exceptional playmaker, who can ghost past players with his incredible dribbling and unlock defences with his quality vision.
The 2005-born attacking midfielder is already showing comparable attributes to another talent who rose to prominence in the Bundesliga, with Kulig claiming he’s similar to Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai.
Maza has been dubbed ‘exceptional’ for his rise to stardom in Germany, and although he’s currently starring in the second division, his talent should take him to one of Europe’s big five leagues very soon.
Perhaps Leicester should make it their priority to sign the Algerian next summer, as he promises to be a great replacement for Buonanotte.