Leicester City are reportedly interested in signing Huddersfield Town midfielder Brahima Diarra.
That is according to journalist Alan Nixon, who has claimed that Leicester could make an offer for the midfielder next month.
Having attempted to sign him in the summer, Enzo Maresca could strike gold at the second attempt with Nixon saying that the Terriers are ready to cash in on their 20-year-old talent.
Writing on his Patreon, he said: “Huddersfield will cash in on midfielder Brahima Diarra in the window – with Championship interest.
“Diarra was linked with Leicester City when they were in the Premier League and they may return with an offer.
“Terriers will sell Diarra rather than let his deal run down. Darren Moore is hoping for some early arrivals with his transfer team working on a surprise foreign capture.”
If Leicester were to capture a midfield acquisition, it’s going to take someone special to dislodge the likes of Harry Winks, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Wilfried Ndidi.
On the evidence of his performances in the Championship this term, Diarra is a player that Maresca should avoid signing, despite showing previous admiration for the Malian.
Why Enzo Maresca should avoid signing Brahima Diarra
Diarra has made 15 appearances – five of which have been starts – in a struggling Huddersfield side this season.
Having joined the Terriers academy in 2019, the youngster has been used sporadically in the first-team in the past two seasons, turning out on 35 occasions in the second tier.
However, his performances this season suggest he’s a long way off being able to compete in Leicester’s midfield unless Maresca is signing him with the long-term future in mind.
Despite performing in a team fighting at the bottom, he’s made fewer tackles per game (1) than the Foxes midfield trio of Wilfried Ndidi (1.4), Harry Winks (1.5) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (1.5), as per Sofascore.
He’s also fallen short across a whole host of other metrics, recording a 75% pass completion per game, 0.3 interceptions and only 1.9 balls recovered.
Whilst he doesn’t have the quality, as of yet, to displace any of that trio, joining Leicester would see him have his game time restricted.
Diarra is currently playing regularly, albeit in a struggling side, but he’s earning vital experience in a first-team environment.
If the youngster were to depart the club, his development could be hampered by having his minutes chopped down.
Of course, Maresca may have plans to shoehorn him into the team, but considering they are chasing the title, it would be more beneficial to sign players who would upgrade their current starting XI.
Unfortunately, Huddersfield’s starlet would be a downgrade on what they currently have in that position.
That is unless he shows significant development in the coming months.