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Young Leicester City defender Alex Pascanu is open to a loan move to Steaua Bucharest.

The Romania Under-21 centre-back said a return to his homeland would be ideal as he looks to jump up to senior football.

Pascanu has been a regular for City’s under-23s this season, playing 10 of 15 Premier League 2 games as the development squad’s defence has again excelled, conceding just 12 goals.

But he is now looking to take the next step.

“For the next six months it would be a good step,” Pascanu told Romanian media when asked about Steaua’s interest.

“I have to take a step towards a team of seniors. Liga I is a strong championship.”

The 20-year-old’s profile has risen in his home country after he earned his first senior international call-up last November, a reward for helping the under-21s reach next summer’s European Championship finals.

That has seen interest bloom in Pascanu, with Steaua owner Gigi Becali admitting his eagerness to take the defender to Bucharest in the summer, when his City contract is currently due to expire.

“I will take Paşcanu in the summer,” said Becali. “I spoke with someone with the national youth selector (Romania Under-21 manager Mirel Radoi) who told me that Pascanu and (fellow defender) Adrian Rus are very good, but Pascanu is more technical and is better for Steaua.”

Steaua midfielder Mihai Pintilii would like to see the transfer go through.

(Image: 2018 Plumb Images)

He said: “Pascanu would be good for us, it would be sensational, that is. He would compete against the other central defenders.”

However, neither Steaua’s sporting director nor manager are aware of any deal.

Meme Stoica, the director of football, said: “(Steaua’s owner) Gigi asked me about Pascanu, but I said I did not know him and I cannot evaluate him because he did not play any matches at the seniors, at the age of 20.

“Perhaps, if (Romania manager) Cosmin Contra started him for the national team and he also had the first minutes to the seniors.”

Mihai Teja, who is overseeing Steaua’s title charge with the club currently in second place, said: “I do not know about the talks about his transfer, it's the first time I hear.

“He's a good young player, but we're covered there, we have four central defenders in the batch.

“The owner certainly wants to make a stronger team and take the championship. We all want this very much.”