Summer 26 Transfer rumours 'X' and other Weak Links

[davieG]

Leicester City eye League One hotshot striker but face battle with Championship clubs

 

Lorent Tolaj, who has scored 20 goals for Plymouth this season, is a reported transfer target for Leicester City© Lindsey Parnaby/Shutterstock

Leicester City will rival Championship clubs for the signature of Plymouth striker Lorent Tolaj, according to reports.

A new striker is set to be City’s summer transfer priority and the Sun’s Alan Nixon reports that they’re looking for a proven forward to fire them out of League One at the first attempt.

 

 

 

Swiss striker Tolaj could be that man after another impressive season. He’s scored 20 goals in 34 games in all competitions since joining Plymouth last August, and sits fourth in the League One scoring charts.

Leicester City man has 'big admirers' as Championship clubs begin to circle

Leicester City transfer window will bring 'natural refresh' as squad exodus expected

But that form, and his rise through the ranks, has caught the attention of Championship clubs, with Sheffield United and Preston also said to be on the 24-year-old’s trail. Celtic have been linked previously too.

Earlier this week, Plymouth manager and former City loanee Tom Cleverley said Tolaj would “cost a lot of money” for any sides keen on him this summer.

“Neither mine or (director of football) Derek Adams' phone has received any calls,” Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon when asked about interest in Tolaj. “But I'd imagine agents are doing their thing in the background.

 

“Tolly hasn't expressed anything about wanting to leave the football club and I think you can see by his work-rate and competitive spirit more than anything, before you talk about the goals, how much he loves playing for Argyle.

“Obviously, he's one of our best players, he will attract some interest and inquiries. Every team in the country would love a striker that can turn a draw into a win in the blink of an eye and those do cost a lot of money.”

Tolaj moved from Switzerland to join Brighton as a 16-year-old, but did not make the breakthrough there, and didn’t hit it off during a series of loan spells either.

It was only when he moved to Aldershot in the National League on a permanent deal did he start scoring regularly, with 25 goals there earning him a move to Port Vale.

He scored 15 for Vale to help them to League Two promotion last season and that earned him the switch to Plymouth, where his goalscoring has not stopped.

[davieG]

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/blackburn-leicester-oxford-portsmouth-set-to-tussle-for-bamba-dieng-lorient/

 

Blackburn, Leicester, Oxford & Portsmouth set to tussle for 15-goal striker
Bamba Dieng
 
Ian King
Published Apr 25, 2026, 10:26 AM GMT+1

Four Championship clubs have been linked to striker Bamba Dieng, whose CV includes a season at Marseille and one of international football's biggest prizes.

 

Thoughts among these clubs will already be turning to summer reinforcements. Whether a club is looking to regain their place in the Championship or improve upon this year's final position, it promises to be a busy summer in the transfer market.

And now no fewer than four clubs who have been involved in this relegation race have all been linked with a move for an international striker who's played for one of France's biggest club sides.

Four English clubs and one German club named in the race for Bamba Dieng
Bamba Dieng
Posting to the social media platform X, journalist Pete O'Rourke has claimed that Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City, Oxford United and Portsmouth could be set to tussle for the Senegalese international Bamba Dieng, who is currently playing in Ligue 1 for Lorient. O'Rourke also confirms that they could be joined in this race by the German side St Pauli.

Does Bamba Dieng sound like a player worth making a move for? Let us know in the comments below!

Dieng's contract is understood to expire this summer, meaning that he is available on a free transfer. He has been a regular in the Lorient team since breaking through with them in November, scoring an impressive 15 goals in 22 appearances for them in all competitions. Lorient are mid-table in Ligue 1, with four games of their season left to play.

 

The 26-year-old is an established Ligue 1 forward, who has also played for Marseille and Angers. In addition to this, he also has 26 caps for the Senegal international team and has scored six goals for them. He was part of their team which won the African Cup of Nations in 2021.

Bamba Dieng has a strong record at both club and international level - is a Championship move calling?

Bamba Dieng's club career has so far been played entirely in France, after being spotted by the giants Marseille while playing for Diambar in the Senegalese Premier League. He signed for the club in 2020 on a loan-to-buy deal and broke into their first team in February 2021, scoring on his debut for them in a Coupe de France match against Auxerre.

The 2021-22 season saw him make 36 appearances for Marseille in all competitions, scoring eight goals. This included 25 appearances in Ligue Un and five in the Europa Conference League.

He signed a two-and-a-half year contract with Lorient in January 2023 for £6m plus £2.5 million in add-ons, but spent the 2024-25 season on loan with Angers after Lorient were relegated, for whom he scored five goals in twenty appearances. Returning to Lorient after they were promoted back at the first attempt, he has settled into a regular first-team place this season.

 

His international career is equally impressive. He made his international debut for Senegal in October 2021 and was called up for AFCON 2021, which was held in January 2022. He scored his first international goal for them in their 2-0 Round of 16 win against Cape Verde, and also scored in the penalty shootout which won them the tournament against Egypt.

With such a pedigree, it's not surprising that there will be a lot of competition to lure the forward to England, and interest may not be limited to these four clubs alone.

[FoxesWalk]

If he costs any money, we won’t be signing him. 

On 26/04/2026 at 11:03, davieG said:

Leicester City eye League One hotshot striker but face battle with Championship clubs

 

Lorent Tolaj, who has scored 20 goals for Plymouth this season, is a reported transfer target for Leicester City© Lindsey Parnaby/Shutterstock

Leicester City will rival Championship clubs for the signature of Plymouth striker Lorent Tolaj, according to reports.

A new striker is set to be City’s summer transfer priority and the Sun’s Alan Nixon reports that they’re looking for a proven forward to fire them out of League One at the first attempt.

 

 

 

Swiss striker Tolaj could be that man after another impressive season. He’s scored 20 goals in 34 games in all competitions since joining Plymouth last August, and sits fourth in the League One scoring charts.

Leicester City man has 'big admirers' as Championship clubs begin to circle

Leicester City transfer window will bring 'natural refresh' as squad exodus expected

But that form, and his rise through the ranks, has caught the attention of Championship clubs, with Sheffield United and Preston also said to be on the 24-year-old’s trail. Celtic have been linked previously too.

Earlier this week, Plymouth manager and former City loanee Tom Cleverley said Tolaj would “cost a lot of money” for any sides keen on him this summer.

“Neither mine or (director of football) Derek Adams' phone has received any calls,” Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon when asked about interest in Tolaj. “But I'd imagine agents are doing their thing in the background.

 

“Tolly hasn't expressed anything about wanting to leave the football club and I think you can see by his work-rate and competitive spirit more than anything, before you talk about the goals, how much he loves playing for Argyle.

“Obviously, he's one of our best players, he will attract some interest and inquiries. Every team in the country would love a striker that can turn a draw into a win in the blink of an eye and those do cost a lot of money.”

Tolaj moved from Switzerland to join Brighton as a 16-year-old, but did not make the breakthrough there, and didn’t hit it off during a series of loan spells either.

It was only when he moved to Aldershot in the National League on a permanent deal did he start scoring regularly, with 25 goals there earning him a move to Port Vale.

He scored 15 for Vale to help them to League Two promotion last season and that earned him the switch to Plymouth, where his goalscoring has not stopped.

 

[lcfc sheff]

11 hours ago, FoxesWalk said:

If he costs any money, we won’t be signing him. 

 

My thoughts exactly, it’ll either be a loan or free transfer 

Edited 28 April by lcfc sheff

[stu]

 

[AKCJ]

Life under the little man.

[AKCJ]

This bloke played for the Birmingham City League 1 super team that got something like 110 points yet he could only score once in 25 games.

 

If this is the level, we're right in the shit.

 

Although it'll be novel to have an Australian international from Scotland and a Scottish international from Australia on the same team.

[TrickyTrevLeftPeg]

Shows how much we've fallen if we are looking to buy this calibre of player to fire us back to the Championship 

 

Rather look to the future with young players with points to prove with potential resale value.

 

[jonny_wright]

You’d take him as a back up for 1 season in league 1 , that’s about it 

[H.a.r.r.y]

this is our new ayew

[ClaphamFox]

After the departures of Ayew and Daka, we have a vacancy for our coveted 'striker with the scoring rate of a defensive midfielder' position, so this makes sense.

[lcfc sheff]

Back up striker, plan b on short term deal. Not inspiring but will do a job 

[Lambert09]

1 hour ago, stu said:

 

These are the links that remind you that things won’t get better. 

Give me the best striker in league 2 or below over these signings any day! 

 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

We'd be better off signing nobody. ****ing shitheads.

[Stadt]

If we want a target man sign Tom Eaves on a free. Scored 13 goals in his last 35 League One nineties for a rubbish Northampton side. He'd sign for a year on low wages.

[VLC86]

Entirely predictable link to Dykes 😂 vile club.

[Pita]

There’s a nasty rumour going around. We might get a manager by Christmas 

[Plastik Man]

1 hour ago, Pita said:

There’s a nasty rumour going around. We might get a manager by Christmas 

[justfoxes]

23 minutes ago, Plastik Man said:

Which Christmas tho 2036 ?

if Rudkin is still involved we’ll be well out of business way way way before we can get a manager in !!

 

SO SACK RUDKIN AND SELL UP PLEASE TOP IF YOU HAVE AN OUNCE OF DECENCY LEFT IN YOU !!

[AKCJ]

16 hours ago, Stadt said:

If we want a target man sign Tom Eaves on a free. Scored 13 goals in his last 35 League One nineties for a rubbish Northampton side. He'd sign for a year on low wages.

I genuinely think he's the worst player i've ever seen play professional football in person.

 

 

Edited 29 May by AKCJ

[kingfox]

Mad to think that someone at the club, whether it’s Rudkin, Glover or someone else in scouting who clearly rates Lyndon Dykes.

 

The striker solution is simple, first target should be someone who has history of getting 15+ at this level, then the back-up should be someone in their early 20’s with potential.

 

But no doubt we’ll get linked to numerous 30+ year olds.

[AKCJ]

20 minutes ago, kingfox said:

Mad to think that someone at the club, whether it’s Rudkin, Glover or someone else in scouting who clearly rates Lyndon Dykes.

 

The striker solution is simple, first target should be someone who has history of getting 15+ at this level, then the back-up should be someone in their early 20’s with potential.

 

But no doubt we’ll get linked to numerous 30+ year olds.

Jack Marriott would be a great signing IMO. 78 G+A in 10k minutes (works out to be around 115 lots of 90 minutes) at league one level.

 

Just had a very productive season for an average Reading side (scoring or assisting in 15 of his 20 starts).

 

Best bit about him is that he works his absolute arse off. He'd be a fan favourite here.

 

Worst bit is that he's got an iffy hamstring and he's in his 30s.

 

 

[FoxinNotts]

35 minutes ago, kingfox said:

Mad to think that someone at the club, whether it’s Rudkin, Glover or someone else in scouting who clearly rates Lyndon Dykes.

 

The striker solution is simple, first target should be someone who has history of getting 15+ at this level, then the back-up should be someone in their early 20’s with potential.

 

But no doubt we’ll get linked to numerous 30+ year olds.

Not hard is it.

There appears to be no vision.

 

This is what I would do:

History of getting 15+ at this level: With the turmoil which Southampton are in,  go get Ross Stewart, who is out of contract - Sell him the dream of making him our main man, up top.24 goals last time he was in league 1.

Back-up should be someone in their early 20’s with potential: Loan market is good for this. Lots of young prem strikers from Prem League 2 to be had. OR (and bear with me...) Mamadou Doumbia on loan from Watford could be an option. I have a feeling we're going to get lumbered with Woyo Coulibaly the Mali international as our right back. To help him finally settle, what better way than to have his friend play for us up top! I think both wiil/would do well at this league 1 level.

[AKCJ]

5 minutes ago, FoxinNotts said:

History of getting 15+ at this level: With the turmoil which Southampton are in,  go get Ross Stewart, who is out of contract - Sell him the dream of making him our main man, up top.24 goals last time he was in league 1.

Since this season in 2021/22, he's only played 65 games. 

 

He was injured for 802 days and missed 149 games.

[Finnegan]

If we replace Jordan Ayew with Lyndon Dykes I give up on football permanently.