Fofana’s display in Saint-Etienne’s 2-0 win away to Olympique de Marseille on Thursday evening attracted rave reviews from sports daily L’Equipe, who called him “a rock” and praised his ability to resist pressure, leaving the opposition no way through. That was a significant occasion for Fofana, who was born in Marseille and was playing at the Vélodrome for the first time in his young career.

It has been quite a start to the season for the 1.90m tall centre-back Fofana, who has helped Claude Puel’s side win all of their first three games of the campaign by a 2-0 margin to top the fledgling table before their trip to FC Nantes on Sunday.

Fofana made headlines earlier this month when he gave an interview to L’Equipe in which he made clear his desire to join English Premier League side Leicester City. “Coming from a poor family from the northern districts of Marseille, I can’t turn this down. I would be mad to say no to Leicester," he insisted.

Such a move would see him follow in the footsteps of his former Saint-Etienne teammate and fellow central defender, William Saliba. Also 19, Saliba has now joined Arsenal after being allowed to stay at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on loan last season.

Fofana is tall, quick, strong and excellent in the tackle. He is surely destined for a big future, but for now Puel understandably wants his player to stay put as the Saint-Etienne manager builds a new team with an emphasis on youth.

'At the right club'

“For me there is no debate to be had. I think he is still learning and he still needs to become more mature. He is at the right club to continue his progression in a peaceful environment. He is just fine at Saint-Etienne and he will stay at Saint-Etienne,” said Puel, seemingly not distracted by the prospect of Leicester paying a reported €30 million for the player.

Fofana, who will turn 20 in December, signed for Sainté in the summer of 2015 and signed his first professional contract, for three years, in 2018. He broke into the first team in the spring of 2019, making his debut against OGC Nice, having helped Saint-Etienne win the prestigious Coupe Gambardella - the national youth knockout tournament - a few weeks earlier.

He went on to become a regular part of the senior side last season under Puel, scoring his first professional goal last December, also against Nice. And so in April the club moved to secure his future by extending his contract until 2024.

“Wesley must become a key part of this team,” Puel said at the time. “He has all the technical and physical qualities needed to get there. He has huge potential and a competitive mindset, but he still needs to become more consistent and improve his concentration. It is over to him to take these steps forward and become a great player.”

Key to Saint-Etienne revival?

It is, of course, ironic that Puel knows Leicester so well having previously been in charge of the English side. Now, though, he is determined to make Saint-Etienne a competitive team again after a poor last campaign and keeping Fofana for at least one more year could be key to that.

However, the transfer window does not close until October 5 so it remains to be seen if that will be the case. Nonetheless, those who have overseen his development are convinced that Fofana - who was raised by his grandmother in Vitrolles, close to Marseille airport - will continue to give his all for Saint-Etienne for as long as he is at Le Chaudron.

“I remember that it was always his dream to play in England one day,” Anthony Loupy, who coached Fofana at under-15 level in Marseille, told 20 Minutes. “He is a nice boy, maybe sometimes a bit clumsy and naïve but guided by his ambition. He knows where he has come from and he will give 100 percent for Saint-Etienne as long as he is there.”

Followers of Ligue 1, and of Saint-Etienne in particular, will hope he sticks around for as long as possible.