Everton are now in talks with Marseille over a deal to sign Senegal star Bamba Dieng, who wants to quit his Ligue 1 side amid rival interest in the Premier League from Leeds United.
Everton now enter talks for Bamba Dieng as Leeds target seeks Marseille exit
According to talkSPORT, Everton and Fulham are in talks with Marseille over their interest in Bamba Dieng. The forward’s agent has spent the past weeks approaching a number of Premier League clubs to sound out any landing spots, and convinced two to seek a switch.
- WORLD CUP: ONE PLAYER TO WATCH FROM ALL 32 NATIONS AT QATAR
- WORLD CUP: TOURNAMENT RECORD OF FRANCE ICON ZINEDINE ZIDANE
Newcastle United have also been lined up as a possible destination for the 22-year-old. But Eddie Howe is not currently studying a move to take Dieng to St James’ Park, with Magpies chiefs instead looking elsewhere for fresh attacking impetus to bolster the Tyneside attack.
David Moyes, meanwhile, has instructed West Ham United’s transfer team to keep tabs on developments surrounding Dieng’s situation. The Irons have already paid £30.5m to sign a striker this summer in Sassuolo star Gianluca Scamacca, but remain open to further deals.
The Hammers boss senses a busy end to the transfer window at the London Stadium while he puts the finishing touches on his side. Yet Moyes may move too late for Dieng, as Frank Lampard and Marco Silva are exploring Everton and Fulham’s interest in the Marseille ace.
Les Phoceens want £15m for their 11-cap attacker, who helped Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations this year. Dieng also offered seven goals and three assists in 25 Ligue 1 outings last season, alongside finding the net once from five ties in the Europa Conference League.
Leeds also admire Sadio Mane-esque forward seeking late window transfer
Reports by 90min earlier this month cited Everton with a tentative interest in Dieng’s exit from Marseille. It was also noted that Leeds United had joined the race for a transfer, with club chiefs at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace also monitoring his situation.
Journalist Graeme Bailey, meanwhile, claimed Howe was considering Dieng as an option at Newcastle as the Marseille forward can play anywhere in the attack. His displays in France and with Senegal have also drawn comparisons claiming he is ‘a bit like Sadio Mane’, too.
But Igor Tudor is willing to let Dieng leave the Stade Velodrome as Les Phoceens have just signed Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean has agreed a two-year contract with the Ligue 1 side to leave Inter Milan. A move Sky Sports report left Dieng fearing for his game time this term.
So much so that Dieng now wants to leave Marseille amid OM’s talks with Everton plus the interest shown by Leeds et al. He may be Lampard’s second attacking signing this summer after Dwight McNeil, in reply to losing Dominic Calvert-Lewin to six weeks through injury.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
