Mbaye Diagne takes a penalty against PSG in the Champions League (Getty Images)
According to a report from Turkish outlet Takvim via FLW (h/t Nottinghamshire Live), Leeds United are planning to hijack Nottingham Forest’s attempts to land Galatasaray striker Mbaye Diagne in the summer transfer window.
Diagne, 28, spent the early years of his professional career with lower division clubs in Italy, before joining Juventus in 2013, but never made a first-team appearance. Between 2013 and 2015, he had loan spells at AC Ajaccio (France), Lierse (Belgium), Al-Shabab Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), KVC Westerlo (Belgium).
He finally left Juve for Hungarian outfit Ujpest in 2015 but lasted just six months as he was snapped up by Chinese Super League side Tianjin Teda in February 2016. In two years at the club, he made 45 appearances, scoring 15 goals, before joining Turkish side Kasimpasa in January 2018. In 36 appearances for the club, he netted 32 goals before joining Galatasaray in January last year.
The 28-year-old managed 11 goals in 20 outings for Gala, but was loaned out to Belgian outfit Club Brugge last summer. The striker struggled to get meaningful game time at the club, making just nine appearances, in which he scored four goals.
The Whites have found the back of the net on 56 occasions this term in the English second division. Only three teams – West Bromwich Albion (64), Brentford (64) and QPR (58) have scored more regularly than the league leaders.
But considering that a number of attacking players in the squad are only on loan, Leeds should bolster their ranks this summer, irrespective of their league status.
Bielsa just has three centre-forwards at his disposal in Patrick Bamford, Tyler Roberts and Jean-Kevin Augustin. Furthermore, the latter is currently on loan at the club and has hardly impressed since arriving in January.
In addition, Roberts has hardly been used regularly this season, managing just 14 appearances in which he has three goals. Only Patrick Bamford has proven to be a reliable centre-forward for the Whites, with 13 goals so far this term. Hence bringing in a new striker should be a priority for the Championship leaders.
And Diagne would represent a viable option for Leeds. While he has hardly featured for Brugge this term, he did do early in the season, as evident from his four goals in nine matches. However, a missed penalty in the Champions League against PSG led to him being frozen out from the squad.
However, he enjoyed one of the most prolific campaigns last season, scoring 31 goals in 36 matches for Kasimpasa and Galatasaray combined. At 28, he is in his peak years and has accrued plenty of experience in his career. Given that he is likely to cost just £5m, Leeds would stand to benefit from signing Diagne.
In Patrick Bamford and Tyler Roberts, Leeds have just two permanent strikers on the books. Furthermore, the latter hasn’t been used regularly by the manager, thus warranting the addition of a new centre-forward in the summer.
And Diagne, to that end, would be a handy addition. Experienced and in good form over the last few months, he would add some valuable depth to the squad.
