Leicester City ‘agree deal’ for 18-goal Ibrahim Diabate, final call for Marti Cifuentes | OneFootball

Leicester City may have lined up a striker, with Aftonbladet reporting an agreement in principle with GAIS for Ibrahim Diabate and stating that the final decision rests with manager Marti Cifuentes.

City’s January priority is to bolster their attack, and the 26-year-old Ivorian finished as joint-top scorer in Sweden in 2025 with 18 goals in 29 games.

Sweden’s season runs through the summer and ended in November, when Diabate shared the golden boot. A permanent transfer and a loan-to-buy have been discussed, with GAIS seeking £2m.

He posted 18 goals and five assists, averaging a goal involvement every 96 minutes, as GAIS finished third.

Cifuentes has managed in Sweden, experience that could inform his call on whether Diabate can step into the Championship.

Diabate moved to Europe at 18 with Real Mallorca, making one senior appearance while largely featuring for the B team.

He later joined Vasteras in the second tier, helping promotion but scoring once in 20 Allsvenskan matches, before GAIS signed him on a free last year.

Since then he has blossomed into an efficient goalscorer with pace, physical presence and clever movement in the box, often finishing from crosses.

Source: LeicesterMercury.co.uk