Newcastle United set for transfer battle with Leeds United and West Ham United for Ligue 1 star

Marseille star Bamba Dieng is the latest player said to be under consideration by Newcastle United as the Magpies look to strengthen their attacking options.

The 22-year-old joined the Ligue 1 giants in a bargain £360,000 deal from Senegalese club Diambars FC last summer after impressing for Marseille’s B Team during the previous season.

His form led to a first-team debut in a 2-0 Coupe de France win over Auxerre and Dieng wasted little time in making an impression as he netted his first goal for the club in the closing-stages of the game.

The Senegal international continued his impressive form into his first full season at Marseille by scoring eight goals and providing three assists during 36 appearances in all competitions.

Dieng has been likened to former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane in the recent past but drew a comparison to another Premier League hitman earlier this year.

Former Liverpool and Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf told French outlet RMC Sport: “He (Dieng) is an attacker, a Didier Drogba.

“All he can do is score goals. I watched him with Diambars, and he was not far from being one of the top scorers in the Senegal championship.

“He is a young person who has a future. The Senegal team, too, may have found its great striker. All I have to say is that he keeps his head on his shoulders, that he continues to work.”

90Min have reported Newcastle and West Ham showed an interest in the forward during the January transfer window and could now rekindle that interest with the new Premier League season about to get underway.

Leeds, Everton, Wolves and Crystal Palace are all said to be ‘keen’ on Dieng, who is also the subject of interest from clubs in Germany and Spain.

Speaking on Dieng’s future, Marseille president Pablo Longoria said recently: “In football, there is no past, it's now, the next game.

“We know the player, we know that he has real talent, value. But we must remember the values ​​of modern sport.”

Marseille are reportedly keen to sell one of their key players to finance a move for former Arsenal and Manchester United star Alexis Sanchez.