An update has emerged on Leeds United and their stance on interest in forward Bamba Dieng ahead of January…
What’s the talk?
Journalist Jonathan Shrager has confirmed that the Whites are not in talks with the player’s agents over a potential swoop for him in the next transfer window.
He Tweeted:
“Dieng latest. No recent contacts with OGC Nice (nor any French club) to explore Ligue 1 ‘joker’ rule. At this moment, Leeds aren’t in contact with Bamba’s representatives about a possible January move. Omitted from Marseilles’ UCL squad, Dieng still hopes to get Ligue 1 game time.”
This comes after the player rejected the chance to sign for Leeds on deadline day for a deal worth a fee in the region of £10m before failing a medical at Nice and being forced to remain at Marseille in Ligue 1.
Bullet dodged
Opting to move on to other targets instead of attempting to go back in for Dieng in January is a wise decision by Leeds and Jesse Marsch is dodging a bullet in the process.
Should Leeds go back in for Dieng?
Dieng’s deadline day drama proved that he is a liability in more ways than one. Firstly, he left the Whites in the lurch by deciding not to board the plane that was set to bring him to England at the last minute to pursue a move elsewhere, which suggests that he was not fully sold on the idea of joining the club in the first place.
So, why should Leeds bring in a player who is not convinced that moving to Yorkshire is right for him? Marsch will surely want players who are fully committed to the cause and desperate to play for the club in the Premier League, rather than ones who would rather be somewhere else.
Also, the injury issue that Nice spotted in their medical was clearly significant enough for them to pull out of their deal to sign him from Marseille. This suggests that he is also a liability from an availability/durability point of view, as the Ligue 1 outfit spotted something that could cause problems in the future.
The 22-year-old did score seven goals and provide three assists in 25 French top-flight outings last season but he has never played outside of France at senior level and it remains to be seen how he would adapt to life in the Premier League.
When you add his potential injury issues, his lack of desire to join Leeds, and the fact that he is yet to prove himself in another country together it makes it easy to see why the club are not jumping out of their seat to snap him up in January.
Marsch is dodging a bullet by avoiding a deal for the striker and the American coach, alongside Victor Orta, must now pursue alternative targets.
