Mercato: Bamba Dieng sees the end of the tunnel

24.08.26 12:30 Serie A Italy

Bologna

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Lazio

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Without a club as the 2026-27 season kickoff approaches in several countries, Bamba Dieng still has to wait. The Senegal international (24 caps, 2 goals) is taking his time to find a club where he can rediscover his best form.

Despite a strong season with FC Lorient (16 goals, 1 assist in 26 matches), the 26-year-old striker has decided to leave Les Merlus, whom he joined in 2023 from Olympique de Marseille.

Contacts in Turkey and England

Tipped to join Amedspor in Turkey last month, the native of Pikine has also had approaches from Saudi Arabia, as well as England. He was reportedly on the radar of Hull City, newly promoted to the Premier League, and Middlesbrough, who lost in the playoff final for a place in the Premier League.

However, none of these leads materialized, and the player remains in limbo, awaiting a new challenge to continue his career.

Bamba Dieng turns down Russia

Recently, the Lion of Teranga received an offer from Rubin Kazan worth around €2 million per season, bonuses included.

However, he turned down the offer, as the Russian league does not seem to fit into his plans. Instead, he is aiming to join a competitive club in Europe’s top five leagues, according to Sport24.

Nice remains on alert

According to Foot Mercato, Bamba Dieng could stay in Ligue 1 by signing with OGC Nice. Having previously shown interest, Le Gym dropped out before coming back for another attempt.

The Niçois are eager to outpace the competition and snap up a player who knows the French league well, especially since he is available on a free transfer, despite his estimated market value being around €15 million.

The Diambars FC academy product needs to make a quick decision about his future if he wants to regain a starting spot with the Lions of Teranga, especially after playing just 7 minutes against France (1 appearance in 4 matches) during the 2026 World Cup.

Lazio said to have taken the lead

According to Belgian transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri, Lazio have taken a serious step toward signing the Senegalese striker.

The latest reports suggest the Italian capital club is set to make an official announcement on Thursday, August 20.

According to the same source, the former Senegal international is expected to earn an annual salary of €1.5 million, plus a €500,000 signing bonus.

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

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