Celtic may struggle to secure the signing of Marseille and Senegal forward Bamba Dieng, amid Premier League interest this summer.
That is according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who was speaking to This is Futbol about the Hoops’ remaining transfer plans, heading into the final few weeks of the transfer window.
According to 90min, Celtic are interested in securing the signature of Dieng this summer, but have been joined in their interest by Everton, Leeds United, Newcastle United, as well as interest from both Germany and Italy.
Meanwhile, hommedumatch.fr (via Daily Record) have suggested that Marseille boss Igor Tudor doesn’t see the 22-year-old as part of his plans this season, and Celtic have enquired about a potential transfer to the French giants, but a price of £8m has been placed on the forward’s head following interest from Newcastle and Leeds
And O’Rourke believes that it will be difficult for Ange Postecoglou’s side to secure the signature of the 11-time Senegal international this summer, with Premier League sides also circling round the striker.
He said: “When you’ve got Premier League clubs competing against you, even with the lure of Champions League football, I think financially, you can’t really compete with the Premier League clubs, and more than likely, the Premier League club would win out over a Celtic or a Rangers, even with Champions League football on offer.”
TIF Thoughts on O’Rourke’s comments
We believe that Celtic fans will be disappointed to hear that O’Rourke believes that Dieng could move to a Premier League club in favour of Celtic, even with guaranteed Champions League group-stage football on offer at Celtic Park this season.
The centre-forward, dubbed as “explosive” by Jorge Sampaoli, managed to score eight goals and provide three assists in 36 appearances for Marseille last season according to Transfermarkt, suggesting that he may be more suited to a move to Scotland in order to get regular gametime and develop, rather than be thrown into the Premier League straightaway.
We believe that whilst a move to Celtic may be more ideally suited to Dieng at this stage of his career, his future may depend on what wages and play-time he will be offered from a Premier League club this summer.