Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has marked Kasimpasa forward Mbaye Diagne as a top target for the rest of the summer transfer window, according to the Mirror.
The newspaper claimed via their live transfer blog on Tuesdsay [11:22pm] that Yorkshire rivals Hull are also interested in the 6ft 3in Senegalese striker and have opened talks about welcoming him to the KCOM Stadium.
It is understood that Leeds have turned their attention to the £1.5million-rated powerhouse after missing out on four other striker targets; Abel Hernandez, Matej Vydra, Britt Assombalonga and Jonathan Kodjia.
Good move for Leeds?
Diagne has certainly been in prolific form in 2018.
He joined Turkish club Kasimpasa from Tianjin Teda in January and wasted no time settling in as he scored 12 goals in 17 league appearances.
The 26-year-old even managed to find the net against the likes of Galatasaray and Trabzonspor, so it is not as though he has been scoring against lesser teams in the Turkish Super Lig.
For £1.5million, it is definitely worth Leeds’ time in trying to sign Diagne up, however fans will not be happy about the fact that he is not proven in the Championship, like most of their signings last summer that eventually flopped.
This is Futbol rating 7/10
Likely to happen?
Leeds have gone from four proven Championship goalscorers to a relatively unknown Senegalese one in what has been an extremely frustrating transfer window for the fans.
Hull look as though they are in pole position to sign him at this stage with talks already underway between the concerned parties and it would be adding insult to injury if the Whites were to miss out on him to their Yorkshire rivals.
At this stage, it does not appear as though Leeds have made a concrete move for Diagne, so it’s hard to gauge whether or not a deal will materialise.
This is Futbol rating 4/10