Woyo Coulibaly completed a move to Leicester City from Parma in January 2025 but found opportunities hard to come by at the King Power Stadium.
The right-back managed just 107 minutes across four Premier League appearances during the second half of last season. After the Foxes were relegated to the Championship, he slipped further down the pecking order and was sent out on loan to Sassuolo on deadline day last summer. The deal did not include an option or obligation to buy.
The Mali international has featured for the Serie A outfit, though not consistently, clocking 479 minutes from 11 appearances in all competitions.
Sassuolo’s position on the Leicester defender
Reports from Italy last month suggested all parties were weighing up the possibility of cutting short his loan spell due to a lack of impact. That scenario did not materialise, and there has since been a change in direction, according to Africa Foot.
The 26-year-old remains with the Italian club and could even stay beyond the current campaign. It is claimed Sassuolo manager Fabio Grosso has shown strong interest in Coulibaly, believing he can add quality and depth to his defensive options.
Grosso has reportedly asked the club to assess the possibility of keeping the Leicester player on a permanent basis, and Sassuolo are said to be open to exploring that route.
Leicester City open to permanent exit
Despite being under contract at Leicester until 2029, Coulibaly is not believed to feature in the club’s long-term plans. That stance has encouraged Sassuolo to begin discussions with the Championship side over a potential transfer.
Africa Foot adds that the Serie A club have already put together an offer to sign him outright, although no fee has been disclosed.
Coulibaly’s displays for Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations are said to have attracted attention from Napoli, VfL Wolfsburg, Real Sociedad and Marseille, all of whom reportedly made contact with his representatives. However, Sassuolo are currently in the strongest position to secure his services.
Leicester are keen to complete a sale in the upcoming transfer window. If Sassuolo cannot reach an agreement with either the player or the Foxes, Coulibaly will need to seek a new destination ahead of next season.