Reports suggest Manchester City and Chelsea are locked in a battle to sign Jeremy Monga, a highly-rated 15-year-old prospect from Leicester City.
Monga has been making waves in Leicester’s youth setup, featuring regularly for both the Under-18 and Under-21 sides. He was also named as an unused substitute in the senior team’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United in early February, having frequently trained with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s squad.
The young winger’s rapid progress has attracted interest from several top clubs, with Manchester City and Chelsea emerging as frontrunners. According to the Daily Mail, Pep Guardiola’s side is currently leading the race to secure his signature.
Due to his age, Monga is not yet eligible to sign a senior contract. As a result, Manchester City could negotiate a deal that would likely involve a compensation fee determined by a tribunal.
While Leicester cannot block City’s approach, Van Nistelrooy has expressed his desire to personally intervene in the club’s efforts to retain the talented youngster. The Leicester boss hopes to convince Monga to remain at the club for the foreseeable future.
“Jeremy is a great talent who I believe is a vital part of this club’s future,” Van Nistelrooy said. “We plan to start conversations soon to keep him here. It’s important for me that we can make that happen, and we’re actively working on it.”
“We’re assessing his development and where he stands right now. At 15, he’s still in school and only available for training with us on Thursdays. We need to carefully consider what’s best for him, particularly in terms of his pathway to the first team and senior football.”
“We’re presenting him and his family with our vision for his future. I hold him in very high regard and want him to be a key part of the club’s long-term plans.”
“His talent hasn’t gone unnoticed—it’s being recognized globally. That’s why we’ve included him in the first team setup whenever possible. Conversations with him and his family will begin soon, and I’ll be personally involved in outlining the pathway we believe is best to integrate him into the senior squad.”
