Leicester join Roma in race for Juventus’ highly-rated forward Matias Soule – as Italian giants slap £34m price tag on 21-year-old Argentine

Juventus attacker Matias Soule is a prominent target for Leicester as they seek to re-establish themselves in the Premier League.

Soule is one of the brightest prospects in Serie A and has already turned down approaches to play for Italy, preferring instead to represent Argentina, the country of his birth.

The 21-year-old is available this summer as Juventus seek to stay within spending rules though he is valued at about £34million – a figure no club has yet met.

Juventus’ Serie A rivals Roma are also keen to sign Soule, who would link up with fellow Argentines Paulo Dybala and Leandro Paredes in the Italian capital, though Juve are reluctant to strengthen a club likely to rival them for a top-four spot in the league.

The chase for Soule is the latest stage of a busy summer in the market for Leicester, now managed by Steve Cooper after Enzo Maresca, who led them to promotion from the Championship last season, left for Chelsea in June.

Soule, left, is one of the brightest prospects in Serie A but is still seeking his Argentina debut

Since Cooper’s arrival, Leicester have spent about £30million on winger Abdul Fatawu, who impressed on loan from Sporting Lisbon last season, midfielder Michael Golding and defender Caleb Okoli, though homegrown midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall followed Maresca to Chelsea for about £30m.

Leicester also agreed a new three-year deal with midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, whose previous contract had expired.

The Foxes made an immediate return to the top flight following relegation the previous season but are nervously awaiting their punishment for breaking Premier League spending rules during the 2022-23 accounting period. A significant points deduction is among the possible penalties.