According to a recent report by The Express, West Midlands club Leicester City are said to be keen on beating fellow Premier League Newcastle United to the signing of prodigious Ligue 1 striker Habibou Diallo. It has been suggested that the Foxes staff have been keeping tabs on the Senegalese international’s progress at Metz, and that they’re quite impressed with what they’ve seen so far.
Who Is Habibou Diallo?
Born in the Senegalese town of Thies, Habibou Mouhamadou Diallo was touted to become a footballing star from a very young age. He began his playing career at local club Generation Foot, where he remained until being recognised as a potential talent by FC Metz in the summer of 2013.
Even after joining the Ligue 2 side, he didn’t immediately rise to supremacy. He was forced to work his way up the ranks at the French team and eventually made his way into the first team. Having spent his entire professional career so far at Metz, a move away from France will be a big change for the striker. But considering that he’s only 24, this could be the right time for him to seek a different challenge.
Why Are Leicester City Targetting Habibou Diallo?
Having played a vital part in Metz’s promotion campaign in Ligue 2 last season, the youngster even earned himself a place in the Ligue 2 team of the season. Since moving up though, his team has struggled to complement the good work that he’s doing on the pitch. So far this season, he’s scored eight goals from 12 appearances, but despite this Metz side remain rooted at the bottom of the table.
He already has two international caps for Senegal, which means that with more exposure and better training, he could develop into a top striker on the international front as well. He is extremely tall, and he uses his physicality well out on the pitch. He is a constant threat from set-pieces and can be deceptively quick as well. With that said though, he certainly isn’t a one-trick pony, which can be seen from the variety of goals he’s scored for Metz.
The Foxes’ search for Jamie Vardy’s long-term replacement continues as multiple names have been mentioned. Despite this, Diallo certainly wouldn’t be a direct swap for Vardy either. The Senegalese striker certainly offers a different sort of skill-set to anything that Brendan Rodgers currently has in his arsenal. As a player who uses his strength and physical presence to gain the ascendancy, the Premier League could be the perfect place for the Senegal international.
Will Leicester Be Able To Beat Newcastle To The Signing?
The Magpies’ search for a striker led them to Joelinton in the summer. Diallo looks like a very similar player to Joelinton, with the pair of them sharing multiple attributes as well as the same general stature. The Foxes, on the other hand, have been quite dependent on Jamie Vardy for goals over the years, and this acquisition could be the answer to Leicester’s goal-scoring worries in the long-run.
