Plymouth Argyle have missed out on the services of Jaze Kabia after Leyton Orient agreed a deal to sign the Grimsby Town forward.

The League One pair were both pursuing a deal for the 24-goal forward over the summer, with both in need of a new striker after losing their main options, Lorent Tolaj and Dom Ballard, to Bristol City.

Kabia Heads To O’s

However, recent developments had seen the Brisbane Road club gain an advantage in signing the 26-year-old, with Pete O’Rourke revealing earlier in the day that Orient had entered advanced talks.

Now, in an update from the Football Insider reporter, it has been confirmed that Richie Wellens has landed a deal to sign Kabia, who is set to sign a three-year deal in East London.

Having only joined the Mariners 12 months ago, the Irish forward immediately came forth as one of League Two‘s best forwards in his first-ever EFL season having been recruited from Truro City.

He featured in all 48 of Grimsby’s fourth-tier matches last season, which saw David Artell’s men come up short in the playoff semi-finals against Salford City, and scored 18 goals, only bettered by Golden Boot winner Aaron Drinan.

Plymouth moved to other targets yesterday, with reports suggesting that they had clinched a £400,000 deal to sign Mansfield Town’s Will Evans, with a medical scheduled to take place tomorrow.

Ideal Transfer For Orient

Having finally cashed in on Dom Ballard for a handsome £5 million fee, Leyton Orient needed to move quickly in order to find their next talisman before the start of the season.

Now, they have landed on arguably the best option available on the market in Jaze Kabia, Richie Wellens will feel he has now adequately replaced the former Southampton man.

While he is not a star for the future like Ballard was for Orient, the 26-year-old is certainly ready to make the step up, and at his age, may prove to be a less alluring target for some sides in future windows.

Kabia has not been tested at the League One level, and with just one season in the EFL under his belt may prove to be a risk, but given how quickly he adapted to Grimsby, he should have no issues and will hope to spearhead the O’s resurgence back up to become contenders once again.