Newcastle United ‘offered’ chance to sign Everton transfer target for £10m

Newcastle United transfer target Bamba Dieng has interest from several clubs as doubts continue to be cast over his future at Marseille.

Reports in France over the weekend have suggested the Ligue 1 giants are ready to sell the Senegal international and are looking for an offer above £10million.

French outlet L’Equipe have suggested Dieng would like to remain in France to ‘continue his progress’ and both Nice and Lorient have an interest in taking the striker on loan, with a permanent deal to follow at a later date.

Newcastle have been linked with a move for the 22-year-old forward but would face competition from Premier League rivals Everton and Fulham.

The report has stated that latter are ‘not a priority’ for Dieng and suggests Newcastle and Everton will continue to ‘observe the situation’ without making an official offer.

Dieng has nine goals and three assists in 42 appearances for Marseille and broke into the Senegal senior side last October, making his debut as a substitute in a World Cup qualifier against Namibia.

He has been compared to former Premier League stars Sadio Mane and Didier Drogba in the recent past, with ex-Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers forward El-Hadji Diouf describing him as ‘a great striker’.

Speaking to Canal Plus, he said: “I knew him with the national youth team. He’s an attacker, a Didier Drogba.

“All he can do is score goals. He is a young person with a future. The Senegal team, too, may have found their great striker.

“All I have to say is keep his head on his shoulders, keep working. On three occasions, he can give you two. He is an attacker who ends up in the box.”

Dieng is yet to open up on a possible move away from Marseille and is reportedly keen to remain with the club.