Reigning Premier League champions Leicester City have made Basel wingerMohamed Elyounoussi one of their priority transfer targets, as they brace themselves for the expected departure of star man Riyad Mahrez at the end of the season.
Reports in theMailsuggest that the Foxes have been scouting Elyounoussi since January and though they currently remain without a full-time manager, many coaches at the club are keen to bring the 22-year-old to the King Power this summer.
Leicester City have sent scouts to watch Basel winger Mohamed Elyounoussi. (Source: Daily Mail) #LCFC #FCBasel pic.twitter.com/gCn20vSL18
With Leicester struggling to replicate their incredible form from last season that saw them stun the world of football by winning the Premier League, it is expected that a number of top players will leave the club in four months time, with Mahrez the most likely to depart as a host of top clubs continue to be linked with the Algerian.
Should Mahrez be sold this summer, then Elyounoussi is seen as a ready-made replacement and though his youthful years would suggest that his development is not yet complete, the Foxes believe he could help fill the void left by Mahrez's exit.
The Norwegian has been in excellent form over the last month as he has scored three times and contributed a further four assists in his last four appearances for Basel, who signed him from boyhood club Molde last summer.
Whilst the Foxes are keen on bringingElyounoussi to the club in the coming months, any move for the winger will depend of the outcome of this season's relegation scrap.
Demotion to the Championship would all-but end Leicester's hopes of signingElyounoussi, however any fears over relegation have eased in recent weeks as back-to-back 3-1 league wins has opened up a comfortable five-point gap between the Foxes and the bottom three.