---
title: "Leeds: Pete O’Rourke reacts to Bamba Dieng move collapsing"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-pete-orourke-reacts-to-bamba-dieng-move-collapsing/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Follow up"
published: "2022-09-02T11:41:41Z"
modified: "2022-09-02T11:41:41Z"
---

# Leeds: Pete O’Rourke reacts to Bamba Dieng move collapsing

**Journalist Pete O’Rourke has described [Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) missing out on deadline day target Bamba Dieng as a ‘huge blow’.**

### The Lowdown: Crazy deadline day

Victor Orta was extremely busy on the final day of the summer window looking for a striker. A move for [Cody Gakpo](https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1565254474939211776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) fell through in the morning, resulting in Leeds going after Dieng.

A deal appeared to be [edging closer](https://twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1565314383546404870), with Andrea Radrizzani even [welcoming](https://twitter.com/andrearadri/status/1565321567101505538) the player, however, the forward then opted to join [Nice](https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1565373972811812872). It didn’t end there, though, with Dieng [failing his medical](https://twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1565448267462230019) and remaining a Marseille player.

Leeds brought in teenager [Wilfried Gnonto](https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/1565477099200122880) from FC Zurich to soften the blow after it emerged that Rodrigo would be missing [three to four weeks](https://twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1565318729650544640) with a shoulder problem.

### The Latest: O’Rourke reacts

O’Rourke, talking to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/88055264-leeds-suffer-huge-blow-after-shock-deadline-day-news-at-elland-road), had this to say on Leeds’ failed move for Dieng, labelling it as another ‘huge blow’ after the problem with Rodrigo added to their problems up front.

\[freshpress-poll id=”408362″\]

> “It’s a huge blow, they thought they had this deal done. Even the owner Andrea Radrizzani was tweeting saying, ‘welcome Bamba Dieng to the club’, so there’s a bit of egg on his face after this one.”

### The Verdict: Dodged a bullet?

Even though O’Rourke rightly feels that missing out on a recognised goalscorer is a blow for Leeds, it could prove to be a blessing in disguise following a failed medical with Nice.

Leeds already have enough injury-prone forwards at the club in Rodrigo and Patrick Bamford, so, in hindsight, it may have been a risk bringing in Dieng.

[Gnonto](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wilfried-gnonto/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/627626) actually has more first-team experience than [Dieng](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bamba-dieng/leistungsdaten/spieler/822458), is a full Italy international and is four years younger, so hopefully, all the stress of deadline day will be worth it by bringing in Gnonto.