3 Things to know about Leicester transfer target Sofiane Diop

Diop may be an exciting attack-minded player, but the club’s recruitment department must see the necessary defensive traits for him to fit into the playing style. WhoScored detailed the Frenchman as having made 1.2 tackles per game last season, being dribbled past once per 90 minutes in all competitions.

All right foot

In a direct comparison to Lookman, for whom talk of a permanent deal has gone quiet, Sofiane Diop is significantly more one-footed. According to FBRef, the Nigerian international is 81% right-footed, whereas the potential new arrival would match the most one-footed winger the Foxes have.

The stats website shows Diop to be 91% right-footed, level with Marc Albrighton, just ahead of Ayoze Perez at 90% and Barnes at 87%. This is a weakness in wide areas for City, and a criticism that is often levelled at their attacking midfielders, except for James Maddison, is that they’re too one-dimensional and very predictable on the ball.

You can count on Harvey Barnes telegraphing his intentions at least once per game, and when Ayoze Perez has had the chance to prove himself, the Spaniard has been far too easy for opposition defences to figure out. The Foxes faithful will be hoping, if this deal comes to anything, that Diop is dynamic and inventive enough to give opposing full-backs a headache.