Leicester City make transfer breakthrough for prolific forward - but Wrexham AFC threat has emerged | OneFootball

Leicester City have agreed a deal in principle to sign GAIS forward Ibrahim Diabate, who scored 19 goals in the Swedish top flight in 2025.

Leicester City have agreed a deal in principle to sign striker Ibrahim Diabate from Swedish top-flight club GAIS - but there is still one potential hurdle in making the transfer actually happen.

The Foxes' play-off bid took another dent on Saturday, when they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Championship leaders Coventry City, as Jordan James's opening goal was cancelled out by strikes from Ellis Simms and Haji Wright.

Marti Cifuentes's side are now just 13th in the second-tier table, albeit they remain six points adrift of the play-off places, while sixth-place Preston North End lost 1-0 at home to Derby County.

Leicester can revitalise their top-six credentials by beating Wrexham this Tuesday, after the Red Dragons saw their strong form come to an end with a 2-1 defeat to Norwich City.

Leicester City agree deal to sign Ivorian striker Ibrahim Diabate - Wrexham AFC threat emerges though

The Foxes have not enjoyed the services of a prolific striker since club legend Jamie Vardy departed in favour of a move to Serie A outfit Cremonese last summer.

Leicester's top scorer is midfielder James, who has notched nine goals in 23 league appearances, but striker Jordan Ayew has scored just five goals in the Championship this term, while fellow forward Patson Daka has just one.

Acquiring a striker with an eye for goal this month would undoubtedly help the King Power Stadium club make more of a move towards the play-offs, especially since Julian Carranza's loan stint from Feyenoord was terminated.

And according to Swedish outlet Sportbladet, the Foxes have agreed a deal in principle with GAIS for Ibrahim Diabate's services, after his 18-goal haul for his club in the Allsvenskan last season.

The report from Sweden adds that it is now up to Leicester boss Cifuentes - who is no stranger to football in that part of the world having previously managed Hammarby - to make a decision regarding actually sanctioning a deal for the centre-forward.

But there's also another threat in the form of Championship rivals Wrexham, with the report claiming the 26-year-old Ivorian attacker is also on the radar of the North Wales outfit as they look to strengthen their own hand before the February 2 deadline.

It was reported by Alan Nixon earlier in January that the Red Dragons were lining up a European striker target which would smash their transfer record and be worth around £14 million, but Diabate would be nowhere near that amount, meaning he could be down the pecking order when it comes to Phil Parkinson's actual targets.

Ibrahim Diabate would be a gamble for Leicester City - but it's one worth taking

Diabate has no previous experience of English football, but his attacking exploits in the Swedish top flight in 2025 prove that he is an adept goalscorer.

The 26-year-old notched an impressive return of 18 goals and five assists in 29 Allsvenskan appearances last term, helping GAIS finish third in the table - and it's clear he was central to everything.

Before joining his current club last summer, Diabate represented fellow Swedish side Vasteras SK, while he previously played in Spain at low levels for Mallorca's B team, Sevilla Atletico, and Atletico Madrileno.

His finest goal-scoring season came in 2021/22, when he notched 24 strikes in 37 appearances for Mallorca's B team, but that level was no way comparable to what the Championship is.

The former Ivory Coast youth international has now established his attacking threat at top-flight level with GAIS though, and could be ready to perform in the second tier.

Having worked in Sweden, Cifuentes' stewardship could help Diabate adapt to the Championship, and should the Foxes complete a deal for Diabate swiftly, they could enjoy his services in time for upcoming clashes against Oxford United and Charlton Athletic on home soil.