Newcastle United could have gotten the brand new season underway with a convincing victory over newly-promoted Nottingham Forest, though the necessity for additional additions continues, with the ahead line, in specific, in want of strengthening.
Moves for the likes of Alexander Isak and Moussa Diaby have broken down as a result of potential, sizeable asking costs, whereas the Magpies noticed long-term goal Hugo Ekitike be part of Paris Saint-Germain, with their pursuit of Leicester City’s James Maddison having additionally but to bear fruit.
That has grow to be a supply of frustration for supervisor Eddie Howe, though the previous Bournemouth boss seems to have recognized a goal who might effectively be the answer to these issues, with 90min reporting late final week that Marseille ahead Bamba Dieng is of curiosity to the Tynesiders.
The report means that the northeast aspect – in addition to fellow Premier League golf equipment West Ham United, Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers – are all interested in the 22-year-old this summer season, with the teenager having been frozen out by new boss Igor Tudor on the Stade Velodrome.
Previous experiences have claimed that the 5 foot 10 menace may very well be out there for round £15m, with the Senegal worldwide additionally believed to have been a goal for Howe and co again in January.
The 11-cap gem has warranted such clamour following his glowing type of late in France, with the starlet having scored eight objectives and supplied three assists in all competitions final season.
That haul included a tally of seven objectives in Ligue 1 alone for the “explosive” expertise – as dubbed by former boss Jorge Sampaoli – with it having confirmed one thing of a shock to see him cast out of late following the change of regime.
That additionally comes as a shock contemplating simply how highly-regarded the £9m-rated prospect is by these in his homeland, with journalist Graeme Bailey revealing how he’s known as the “new Sadio Mane”, with the expectation being that he can emulate his worldwide colleague.
Such a comparability is an actual marker of Dieng’s high quality, with Mane having been in really particular type in latest years, notably having fun with a surprising six-year spell at Liverpool previous to his recent switch to Bayern Munich.
That wonderful stint at Anfield – the place he gained a plethora of major honours – noticed the 30-year-old rating 120 objectives and supply 48 assists in 269 video games in all competitions, albeit whereas additionally sacrificing himself for the group along with his relentless work ethic.
Like his young compatriot, the one-time Southampton man can be comfortable all throughout the entrance line and affords an actual dynamic risk for any aspect, with it no shock to see him already settling into life in Germany, having netted on his Bundesliga debut on Saturday.
For Howe and co, it is going to be of giant curiosity that the Marseille man has been tipped to grow to be the following Mane in the approaching years, with the hope being that the 44-year-old might be the one to develop him at St James’ Park.