Leicester City are reportedly preparing a £500,000 bid for former Lincoln City loanee Jack Diamond. According to a report from The Stacey West this week, the Foxes are targeting the Stockport County winger, who spent the 2022/23 season at Sincil Bank. This news comes as Lincoln prepare for their next Championship fixture at home to Blackburn Rovers on 1 September.
Who is Jack Diamond and what is his Lincoln connection?
Jack Diamond is a 26-year-old winger currently playing for Stockport County. He joined Lincoln City on loan from Sunderland for the 2022/23 campaign. During that spell, Diamond made 31 league appearances and scored six goals for the Imps. One of his standout performances was a hat-trick against Bristol Rovers at Sincil Bank. His season ended early in March 2023, and he was later cleared of criminal charges in January 2024. Diamond rebuilt his career with a loan at Carlisle United before making a permanent move to Stockport.
What does the reported offer involve?
Football League World reports that Leicester City are readying an offer worth around £500,000 for the player. Diamond's contract with Stockport County had 12 months remaining as of June. Last December, Stockport were believed to value him at approximately £1 million. On the final day of the winter transfer window, Luton Town saw a £750,000 bid rejected. Diamond recently made his 100th appearance for Stockport. Last season he contributed eight goals and seven assists in 58 appearances across all competitions. He started this campaign with a goal and an assist in a 3-1 opening-day win against Plymouth Argyle.
Were Lincoln City ever in the running for Diamond?
In June, journalist Peter O'Rourke reported that both Lincoln City and Portsmouth were potential destinations for Jack Diamond. No move to Sincil Bank materialised, however. Lincoln have since added other attacking options for managers Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw following the club's step up into the Championship. The latest report contains no suggestion that Lincoln City remains involved in a move for the winger. The only link to the Imps beyond June was a tweet from O'Rourke.
What does this mean for Lincoln City now?
With the summer window progressing, Lincoln's focus is firmly on their Championship campaign. The reported interest from Leicester, managed by Russell Martin, highlights the calibre of player the Imps were linked with earlier in the window. Lincoln's recruitment has already addressed the attacking department, and the club's immediate attention turns to the fixtures ahead, starting with the Blackburn match. Fans can track the team's progress and the latest squad information on our dedicated squad page. The story of Jack Diamond serves as a reminder of the competitive nature of the transfer market, especially for a club now operating in the second tier.
