Olympique Marseille striker Bamba Dieng has decided that he wants to sign for Ligue 1 side Lorient despite interest in recent weeks from Premier League sides Leeds United and Newcastle United as well as Scottish giants Celtic.
According to L’Equipe, the Senegal international is close to joining Lorient with Dieng keen to remain in France despite some major interest from the United Kingdom, with Marseille eager to offload the forward despite previous reports that the French giants wanted to sell the youngster to a Premier League side.
Reportedly valued at £15m, Dieng has been linked to the likes of Leeds and Newcastle for most of the window, with Celtic also joining the race in recent weeks, however, despite an opportunity to join a big side in England or even a club facing Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, the 22-year-old has opted instead to sign for Lorient.
One of Marseille’s most productive players last season and a breakout star in the Africa Cup of Nations for eventual champions Senegal, Dieng’s decision to stay in France and sign for Lorient is a surprise, to say the least, with the Brittany side last year just surviving relegation back down to the second-tier.
Whilst Lorient have started this season much stronger, Dieng moving to the French side is a big surprise given just how many big clubs have been chasing the versatile attacker this summer, with Celtic and Newcastle, in particular, likely kicking themselves for missing out on the Marseille prospect so late in the window.
Indeed, whilst there is time for either side to make one more attacking signing, Dieng could have been perfect given the Marseille star’s record last season and the clear potential the 22-year-old has, and for Lorient, they’ve landed one of the best bargain signings of the window in the Senegal superstar.
Lorient have impressed beating Celtic and English sides to Dieng signing
Lorient might not be the first option for many players when faced with interest from Celtic, Leeds and Newcastle, yet for Dieng, remaining in France seems to be a big deal for the young attacker, and the Ligue 1 side have landed one heck of a coup in the Marseille product.
A versatile attacker with incredible athleticism, Dieng could become a star for Lorient next season if the forward can hit the ground running, and for the British trio, they will be questioning how they missed out on such an exciting talent to a side who last year was almost relegated down to Ligue 2.
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