Everton are one of two clubs who are more advanced in their pursuit of Marseille starlet Bamba Dieng, reports transfer insider Dean Jones.
The Lowdown: Dieng on the move
Dieng has become the subject of much speculation this summer, as the Ligue 1 outfit reportedly ‘push him towards the exit’ due to him falling down the pecking order since the arrival of new manager Igor Tudor.
The 22 year-old Senegal international, known as the ‘new Sadio Mane’ in his homeland, was a regular under Jorge Sampaoli, scoring eight times in 38 appearances.
He has now attracted interest from several Premier League clubs due to Marseille’s stance, and it appears the Toffees are one of the frontrunners.
The Latest: Toffees more advanced than Newcastle
Indeed, Jones tells Give Me Sport that Everton and Fulham are ahead of Newcastle United.
“Dieng is one they (Newcastle) really like as well.
“I think after looking further into it, they’ve discovered that Fulham and Everton are actually further ahead than they are in terms of scoping out what the deal is and whether they can get him to the Premier League.
“And I think there’ll be other clubs keeping an eye on the situation.”
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The Verdict: What a signing
Why would Everton want Dieng? Well, for starters, his versatility could be a useful tool for Frank Lampard, essentially improving the depth of multiple positions in the squad due to his ability to play anywhere across a front three or just in behind a recognised number nine.
Known for his pace – hence the comparisons to former Liverpool star Mane – Dieng ranks in the 99th percentile for forwards across Europe over the past year when it comes to non-penalty expected goals, showing he knows how to get in the right places to find chances (FBRef).
Those chances will surely turn into a more prominent goal record as he matures, and his defending from the front is elite too, standing in the 99th percentile for tackles amongst forwards.
Called a ‘rising star’ by journalist Zach Lowy, Dieng could prove to be both an immediate improvement to Everton’s first XI and a long-term investment, making this a no brainer for Kevin Thelwell and the board.