Monaco have secured the services of Keita Balde from Lazio, with the 22-year-old penning a five-year deal with the French champions.
Considering the ongoing concerns over Kylian Mbappe’s future at the club, Monaco acted accordingly to replace the Frenchman with the capture of the Senegal star.
Tottenham, West Ham, Inter Milan and AC Milan had all tracked the youngster, but Monaco have won the race to secure Keita’s services.
“AS Monaco are pleased to announce the signing of Keita Baldé until June 2022,” a statement read on the club’s official website.
“The Senegalese international forward, who has been capped 12 times and scored three goals for his country, has committed to Monaco until June 2022. Having learned his trade at La Masia, FC Barcelona's training centre, Keita Baldé, 22, moved to Italy to join Lazio in 2011.
“The precocious talent scored his first Serie A goal at the age of 18 years and 8 months, becoming Lazio's youngest scorer since Marco Di Vaio.
“After turning professional in 2013, the versatile forward who can play on the wing or centrally, spent four years in Italy and ended last season with 16 goals and three assists in 31 appearances in Serie A. He is currently in great form, having netted eight times in his last five games. The Senegalese forward scored a goal every 121 minutes in Serie A last season.
“He also made 15 appearances in European competition with the Rome side. Keita Baldé will wear the number 14 shirt for AS Monaco.”
Keita Balde: Scored 7 goals from 10 starts as a centre forward in Serie A last season -- Is he the right man to replace Mbappe at Monaco? pic.twitter.com/zmd9aaqMnO
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) August 30, 2017
On his move to Monaco, Keita said: "I'm very happy to be signing for AS Monaco, a club with a great history. I'm very pleased to be here and can't wait to start playing. A lot of players and friends have said good things to me about the club, the spirit in the squad and the team.
“When you get the chance to come here, you accept straight away. It's the ideal project for me. I'm very happy to be joining a strong squad, with big players who had a brilliant season last year."
