Three sides have their eyes on a defender with experience in the Europa League as they prepare for the Championship next season.
Cardiff City and Lincoln City, who battled it out for the League One title this season, along with Portsmouth, are preparing for the 2026/27 season.
The trio’s preparations include searching the player market to bolster their squads.
One player they are all said to have an interest in is Nigerian defender Ibrahim Buhari, who currently plays for IF Elfsborg in Sweden.
Ibrahim Buhari Attracts Championship Interest
Despite impressing since joining the Swedish side, Buhari has played just four times this season, starting just once. That suggests a move this summer could be on the cards.
Expressen have reported that the 24-year-old’s performances have attracted interest from Championship sides Portsmouth, Lincoln City and Cardiff City. As well as these three EFL clubs, Turkish outfit Kasimpasa are also keen on the defender.
The outlet has said that all four clubs have made ‘initial contact’ with the player about a move to their respective club.
Buhari Impresses at the Back
In the Allsvenskan last season for Elfsborg, Buhari played 24 times, starting 22 games. The Nigerian received an average Sofascore rating of 6.91.
Defensively, he ended the season with 1.7 interceptions per game, 1.3 tackles per game, recovered 4.7 balls per game, and made 6.4 clearances per game, which was the most of any player in the team.
It wasn’t long since Buhari was catching the eye in the Europa League. In the 2024/25 season, he played six games for Elfsborg in the competition, receiving an average Sofascore rating of 6.75.
In his side’s game 1-0 against Roma, Buhari received a 7.2 rating. He ended that game with nine defensive contributions and a pass accuracy of 80%.
Wealth of Experience and Age on His Side
Whoever ends up signing, Buhari will be getting a player with experience in Europe, against some quality opposition, but also with age on his side.
At just 24, his best years are likely ahead of him. If one of those three Championship sides can strike a deal for him, they’ll be signing a great asset on the field now, and in the long term financially if they continue his development.
Buhari will likely take some time to adapt to the English game, but with the right nurturing, he could be a fantastic signing this summer.
