Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing 22-year-old Senegalese striker Bamba Dieng from Ligue 1 giants Marseille.
According to 90 min, Newcastle United are interested in signing Bamba Dieng from Marseille this summer. The Premier League outfit are planning to make a move for the 22-year-old striker, as they continue scouring the market for a new centre-forward after failing to land Hugo Ekitike from Reims earlier this month.
Armando Broja appears to be heading to West Ham United, and the same goes for Sekou Mara, who has agreed to join Southampton from Bordeaux. At the same time, Newcastle United have been priced out of deals for Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak and Brentford’s Ivan Toney. The Magpies have gone back to the drawing board, and Bamba Dieng is the latest to be linked with a move to St. James’ Park.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a steady rise to the top in France following his switch from Diambars in 2019. Dieng spent his first season in Europe with the Ligue 1 club’s reserve side before breaking into the first team the following year. However, the striker shot to prominence last season thanks to his exploits for club and country.
Dieng was instrumental in Marseille qualifying for the UEFA Champions League and Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Cameroon, as well as securing their spot at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. And while his return of seven goals from 25 Ligue 1 outings last term may not seem groundbreaking at first glance, he averaged a goal involvement every 97.2 minutes of league action play.
Because of his tremendous versatility, Dieng’s limited game-time is spread out extensively across different attacking positions, making his return more impressive and highlighting his potential. Needless to say, the 22-year-old has garnered a lot of attention from all across Europe, particularly from the Premier League. Newcastle, West Ham, and Crystal Palace were interested in securing his signature back in January.
And it seems Newcastle have reignited their interest in the promising attacker after facing defeat in several attacking pursuits elsewhere this summer. With the Magpies planning strategically for the future, Eddie Howe is determined to sign young, promising attacking talent he can nurture into a senior first-team star as part of their long-term vision.
Dieng, 22, is within a similar profile to Ekitike but would suit the rigours of the Premier League more than the Frenchman because of his pace and physical build. At 5ft 8in, the versatile attacker has lightning afterburners and is a fairly two-footed finisher. Dieng’s style and compatibility are reminiscent of compatriot Sadio Mane.
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He fits the bill as well, with Marseille wanting only around €15 million for their prized attacker should he leave this summer, as per L’Equipe. But Newcastle will have to beat off stiff competition from SC Freiburg if they are serious about signing the Senegalese international.