West Ham United keeping tabs on Marseille forward Bamba Dieng
West Ham United are keeping tabs on Marseille and Senegal World Cup star Bamba Dieng for a January transfer, according to 90min.
The report claims that with Dieng entering the final 18 months of his contract he could be swayed by a switch to the English top flight.
West Ham United are not alone in their interest in Dieng, with Leeds United, Everton, Leicester and Crystal Palace also looking at the forward.
“90min understands that Marseille are set to offer Bamba Dieng a new contract, having entered the final 18 months of his current deal, although a Premier League transfer could be calling instead,” as quoted by 90min.
“There are as many as five English clubs looking at Dieng with a view to potentially bringing him to the Premier League before the January window closes.
“Having seen Patrick Bamford again struggle for fitness and form this season, Leeds have resurrected their interest in Dieng, who initially moved to Europe from Diambars in Senegal in 2020.
“But they are not alone in tracking the striker as Crystal Palace, West Ham, Leicester and Everton are all keeping tabs on him. Crystal Palace, West Ham and Everton in particular have found goals difficult to come by this season, all averaging one or fewer per game in the Premier League.”
Interesting.
The 22-year-old is certainly a bright talent and looks surplus to requirements at Marseille having barely featured for them this campaign.
But it seems this transfer story may be slightly far-fetched, since do the Hammers desperately need another forward in their ranks right now?
Out of the teams listed above, West Ham United are arguably the team with the least need for a fearsome new forward.
Leeds United and Everton both desperately want and need a new striker at their club so it’s likely they’d be willing to hustle and bustle just that bit more in this one.
Nevertheless, with Michail Antonio’s constant injuries plaguing him and Gianluca Scamacca in and out of form, there could be something in a Dieng switch to London.
Whatever the case may be, the Hammers will want to avoid any last-minute shenanigans from the Senegal international, something he demonstrated in his failed move to Leeds in the summer having been on the brink of Elland Road before last-gasp drama saw the deal collapse.