Leicester City transfer news: Premier League champions close in on signing Nampalys Mendy from Nice

The 23-year-old, who is similar in stature and style to Kante, was in Leicester early this week

Nampalys Mendy is set to become Leicester's third signing of the summer (Getty)

Leicester City are optimistic of securing the club-record signing of Nampalys Mendy, the former France Under-21s midfielder, following weeks of negotiations with current club Nice.

The 23-year-old, who is similar in stature and style to N'Golo Kanté, was in the East Midlands early this week for further talks and medical checks and now appears likely to become the Premier League champions’ third signing of the summer.

Claudio Ranieri, the Leicester manager, is pressing ahead with an extensive summer recruitment programme as the club prepares for their maiden campaign in the Champions League.

Germany goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler (£2.6m) and defender Luis Hernández (free) have already joined from Hannover and Sporting Gijón respectively.

Mendy’s similarities with Kanté, currently excelling with hosts France at Euro 2016, raises suspicion that Leicester are preparing for the industrious midfielder’s departure this summer.

Mendy has made 110 appearances for Les Aiglons since joining from Monaco, where he worked with Ranieri for one season, in 2012.

The Toulon-born midfielder is valued by his club in the region of £11m meaning Leicester will have to smash the £8m-plus-add-ons package it took to take Leonardo Ulloa away from Brighton two years ago.