Leicester City didn’t sign a striker in January but they did have a couple of forwards on their radar in Michail Antonio and Ibrahim Diabate, who are now at new clubs
Michail Antonio is playing again in Qatar, having missed out on a contract at Leicester City(Image: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Leicester City made four signings in a deadline-day dash in the January transfer window, and yet none of them addressed what had seemed their priority at the start of the month.
City went into the window needing a striker who could score goals, and that became especially clear when Julian Carranza’s loan was cut short.
But with injuries prompting different positions to be strengthened, City signed a centre-back, a box-to-box midfielder, an attacking midfielder and a right-sided winger. No striker came in.
With Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka struggling to find the net, and to bring hope to supporters, it’s looking like a costly decision.
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That’s especially as City seemed like they might be bringing in a striker. From December, they had free agent Michail Antonio in training with a view to signing the former West Ham forward.
But an injury sustained in early January saw City pull out of the deal. A month later he was training with their relegation rivals Charlton, but didn’t get a move there either, instead joining Qatari side Al-Sailiya on a two-month deal at the start of March.
And the 35-year-old has finally back in action, playing a senior club match for the first time in 15 months since his serious car accident.
He’s featured twice for Al-Sailiya so far, playing just over 70 minutes in both matches, but is yet to get on the scoresheet.
After City moved on from Antonio, there was only one striker they were seriously linked to: Ivorian forward Ibrahim Diabate.
Playing for GAIS, he finished as joint-top scorer in Sweden in 2025, with his golden boot sharer August Priske joining Birmingham City.
As such, there were plenty of names interested, with reports from Sweden suggesting City had agreed a deal, with Marti Cifuentes to give the final call.
The manager had expressed some doubts over bringing in a player from Sweden in the winter window, as they have summer seasons, with Diabate having been out of action for two months and therefore needing more time to get up to speed.
In the end, a move did not go ahead, and Diabate instead joined La Liga side Alaves on loan.
It seems he has taken time to get up to speed, only making his debut for the club this weekend after four matches as an unused substitute.
Former Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores took charge at Alaves earlier this month and seemed impressed by Diabate, saying: “We’re getting to know him and we’re eager to see him in action.
“He’s given me a good feeling after these five training sessions. He’s fast, powerful, understands instructions well, and he’s going to be an interesting player for the team.”
And so with Alaves 3-1 down at half-time to Celta Vigo on Saturday, Diabate was brought on for his debut at the break.
While he didn’t get on the scoresheet, he was able to make an impact as Alaves overturned the deficit and won 4-3, with Diabate winning the ball and holding it up to help set up the equaliser.
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