Wesley Fofana has pleaded with Saint-Etienne to accept Leicester City's reported £26million offer and let him join the Premier league side.
The teenage centre-back is determined to sign for Brendan Rodgers' side, and in an extraordinary interview he has urged former Foxes boss Claude Puel - now in charge of Saint-Etiene - to sanction the move.
Leicester have offered Fofana a five-year deal and have lodged a bid of €29m (£26.8m) for the 19-year-old, according to L'Equipe.
An in an interview with the French publication, the defender said he “would be crazy to say no to Leicester”.
“I’ve received a lot of offers,” Fofana said. "This contract can change my life. I have to protect my family by keeping them safe. The sporting and financial aspects being combined, I have to say yes."
The defender said he had spoken to Puel to make his case for a move - but didn't get the response he had hoped for
“He [Puel] said I am 100 per cent part of the project and that it is out of the question for me to leave during this transfer window," said Fofana.
“I listen to it and I understand it. But he too must do the same. I hope he will open his heart and listen to me.”
Fofana feels this may be his only opportunity to move to England, with Brexit potentially affecting the freedom of movement of EU citizens.
He said: “When the money is there, you have to take it. It would be even crazier to say no. If I stay and don't have a quality season, we'll all be sorry. And it will be too late.
“Moreover, in a year it will be almost impossible for a player like me to go to England because of Brexit."
He also admitted he had been influenced by William Saliba’s switch to Arsenal from Saint-Etienne.
“Saliba serves as an example to me," said Fofana. "William did very well to sign directly for Arsenal last summer. Given his difficult season afterwards, he would no longer have the same odds today. The same can happen to me."
He then made one final plea with Puel and the powers that be at Saint-Etienne to let him leave for Leicester, saying: “Please think carefully about this offer and put yourself in my shoes.
"Especially the coach. He will make the decision. He explained to me that he is not only the coach, he is the general manager.
"If I understood correctly, he is the boss. And as such, he has to think in the interests of the club and not that of the coach, right?”
