Exclusive: Leicester City eyeing £500k Stockport County transfer raid | OneFootball

Leicester City are lining up a £500,000 move for Stockport County winger Jack Diamond before the end of the window, Football League World understands

Leicester City are eyeing a raid of a potential League One promotion rival in the form of Stockport County, as Football League World can exclusively reveal that the Foxes hold an active interest in striking a deal for Hatters winger Jack Diamond before next Tuesday's transfer deadline.

A sluggish start to life in League One for the first time since the 2008/09 campaign following successive relegations down the EFL ladder has sent alarm bells ringing at Leicester, prompting Russell Martin to take action in the wake of Tuesday's tame 3-1 Carabao Cup second-round defeat to Ipswich Town - which came after a 1-1 draw at newly-promoted Notts County and a shock defeat against Burton Albion at the King Power Stadium over the weekend.

Further signings are on the agenda in the coming days despite an unsurprisingly-active summer window, and Leicester are bidding to make a statement of intent as they look to get their season on track and prise away a star player from a fellow promotion hopeful.

Leicester City eyeing £500k Stockport County, Jack Diamond transfer raid

FLW has learned that Leicester are in the market for reinforcements across the final third in the closing stages of the window, which has led Martin's side to explore a deal that would see Diamond leave Stockport to head to the East Midlands after two years at Edgeley Park.

Indeed, sources have revealed to FLW that the Foxes are prepared to test Stockport's resolve as the talented playmaker enters the final year of his contract with last season's League One play-off finalists, with an official offer expected to be received by the Greater Manchester outfit before long.

FLW understands that Leicester are plotting a move worth £500,000 for Diamond, who faces an uncertain future with Stockport towards the end of his three-year deal with Jim McNulty's side.

The 26-year-old's price-tag is believed to have dropped this summer owing to his contractual situation, with Football Insider having reported in June that Championship pair Lincoln City and Portsmouth were targeting a cut-price deal for the Hatters starlet.

Back in December of last year, meanwhile, FLW exclusively revealed interest from Derby County in Diamond's signature, which was then valued in the region of £1 million before Luton Town saw a £750,000 offer rejected on the winter window's deadline day.

It remains unclear whether Stockport will accept Leicester's impending offer for Diamond in light of previously-rebuffed proposals of a higher amount, although County will also understand the risk of being backed into the corner as he approaches the closing stages of his current contract.

Stockport County's Jack Diamond would be an exciting signing for Leicester City

Leicester supporters desperately need sources of excitement following a tumultuous couple of years and, right now, a less-than-ideal introduction to English football's third-tier, and Diamond would represent an encouraging addition to Martin's ranks.

Unlike the Foxes, Diamond has started the new campaign in strong form and inspired his side's 3-1 opening-weekend victory over Plymouth Argyle with a goal and an assist.

The Hatters are undergoing a period of on and off-field transition in recent times with a new manager and changes behind the scenes, but will hold every ambition of cementing their promotion credentials after finishing third in each of the last two seasons.

Stockport even made it to last term's play-off final against Bolton Wanderers and Diamond has been at the centre of his side's two promotion bids in League One, having recently made his 100th appearance for County.

The Sunderland academy product recorded eight goals and seven assists from 58 outings across all competitions as Stockport reached Wembley last time out, and his profile represents an attractive one for Leicester to capture.

Capable of playing centrally as a creative focal point in attacking midfield or on either flank - though most preferably the right-hand side - owing to his speed and dynamism off the mark, Diamond's directness and energy coupled with a spark of match-winning creativity and flair has made the ex-Lincoln loanee a tricky customer for League One defences over the last two years, even if Stockport fans would perhaps like to see more consistency.

Leicester City's summer incomings as Stockport County star Jack Diamond eyed

The Foxes are undertaking a vast rebuilding process following successive relegations from the top-flight to the third-tier, which has necessitated a busy window of activity at both ends for the one-time Premier League champions.

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No fewer than nine signings have been made as Leicester push forward with a hopeful move for Diamond, with FLW breaking the news of Conor Chaplin's switch to the club after an illustrious spell with Ipswich.

Much will be expected of on-loan Brighton wing pair Harry Howell and Tommy Watson, whereas the goalkeeping stable has been bolstered by Alex McCarthy and Franco Ravizzoli.

Meanwhile, Liam Cullen has joined with solid second-tier pedigree from Swansea City, another ex-Ipswich hero has arrived in the form of Wes Burns and two wildcard contention options have been sought through Admir Bristic and Ilari Kangasniemi out of Slovenia and Finland respectively.

Leicester are continuing to work on outgoings, too, and with the likes of Patson Daka, Abdul Fatawu and Harry Winks having all departed over the summer, Wout Faes and Stephy Mavididi are being left out of Martin's side until the window passes amid FLW's revealed interest from Championship promotion contenders Middlesbrough in the latter as Hamza Choudhury continues to be linked with a move to Derby.