President grants West Ham, Forest target’s exit plea with £9.5m deal close

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Serie A side Salernitana are now closing in on a deal to sign Strasbourg Alsace striker Habib Diallo, against interest from Premier League pair West Ham United and Nottingham Forest.

Salernitana closing in on deal for Habib Diallo against West Ham, Forest interest

According to Foot Mercato, Salernitana are now close to sealing a transfer with Strasbourg Alsace for Habib Diallo. The Serie A and Ligue 1 outfits are in advanced discussions over an €11m (£9.5m) package for the Senegal striker, who had requested a transfer this summer.

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Le Racing president Marc Keller has now sanctioned Diallo’s plea to leave the Stade de la Meinau three years before his contract expires. Strasbourg awarded the 14-cap attacker a five-year deal upon his arrival from FC Metz in 2020, when he cost the club a similar £9m.

Diallo has proven his worth to Strasbourg through the past two seasons with 22 goals and five assists from 66 appearances in all competitions. He recorded 11 of his goals across 31 Ligue 1 appearances last season, plus two assists, on route to claiming a sixth-place result.

The 6 ft 1 frontman also helped Senegal win their first Africa Cup of Nations earlier in the year. But ESPN reported in June that the Lions of Teranga’s success convinced Diallo that he needs a bigger domestic challenge. Yet he is now set to snub a dream move to England.

Habib Diallo snubbing dream Premier League transfer for Serie A

West Ham United and newly-promoted Nottingham Forest have both shown an interest in taking Diallo from Strasbourg this summer. That’s according to ESPN, who cite the Premier League duo with Graham Potter’s Brighton & Hove Albion as three of his array of admirers.

Yet Diallo is seemingly set to snub a dream move to the Premier League for a shot in Serie A with Salernitana. He has spent his entire senior career so far in Ligue 1, having featured for FC Metz’s first-team between two loan spells with Stade Brestois and joining Strasbourg.

David Moyes will not rue Diallo rejecting West Ham’s interest for Salernitana that much as the Irons have signed Gianluca Scamacca from Sassuolo instead of the Strasbourg star. Steve Cooper has additionally taken Taiwo Awoniyi off Union Berlin to Nottingham Forest.