West Ham and Leicester join Chelsea in the race to sign Lens striker Elye Wahi | OneFootball

According to a report by L’Equipe, RC Lens have allowed Elye Wahi (21) to leave the Artois side this summer, only one year after his arrival. The France U23 international is gathering lots of interest from the Premier League, as West Ham United and Leicester City have joined Chelsea in the chase of the gifted centre forward.

Last summer, Wahi became Lens’ record signing for a whopping €30M fee from Montpellier after an outstanding season in which he had logged 19 goals and six assists in 33 games. One year later, the France U23 international’s journey at the Artois side may have come to an end. If so, Wahi’s journey in the North of France may not live long in memory, as he struggled to adapt to Frank Haise’s system, logging 12 goals and four assists in 37 games across all competitions. However, the right-footed centre forward was strangely more at ease in the UEFA Champions League, being Lens’ standout player and helping them to secure the third place. Wahi was mostly remembered for a breathtaking performance against Arsenal, where he scored and assisted in the Artois side’s unforgettable 2-1 win over the Gunners.

Wahi’s performances in the UEFA Champions League and the domestic competitions have gathered interest from the Premier League, as Chelsea were recently linked with the 21-year-old striker. However, the Blues may face fierce competition to seal Wahi’s deal, as West Ham and newly-promoted Premier League side Leicester have also opened talks to sign Lens’ centre forward, who still has four years on his current deal. However, L’Equipe reports that the Artois side and Wahi have found an agreement to go separate ways this summer. Lens’ valuation of their young talent remains unknown.

GFFN l Grégoire Devaux