Premier League outfit Leeds United have been dealt a hefty blow amid efforts to secure late-window reinforcements to the club’s frontline.
It is of course common knowledge that, ahead of the transfer window slamming shut later tonight, the powers that be at Elland Road were hard at work in a bid to add further to Jesse Marsch’s attacking ranks.
This comes after hitman Rodrigo was ruled out for what is expected to be a spell of around a month, owing to a shoulder injury.
Rodrigo does NOT require surgery, but the Spaniard with need 3-4 weeks for the injury to ‘calm down’ and he’s likely to return after the international break. Junior Firpo, Luke Ayling and Liam Cooper are all in training. Dallas is not expected to return this year. #LUFC #LUFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) September 1, 2022
The last 48 hours, in turn, had seen it widely reported that Leeds had set their sights on one player in particular as a replacement.
The individual in question? Bamba Dieng.
Not only that, but updates over the course of the day to date had culminated in the assumption that Olympique Marseille talent Dieng’s move to west Yorkshire was essentially a foregone conclusion.
As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Whites have, at the last minute, pulled the plug on their Dieng swoop.
This comes after the 22-year-old, whilst in the airport awaiting his flight to England, opened negotiations with another club, in the form of OGC Nice.
After making clear that his preference would be to remain in France, Nice, in turn, jumped to the front of the queue for Dieng’s signature, with Jesse Marsch and co. therefore forced to turn their attentions elsewhere with just hours remaining before the transfer deadline.
Crazy story of the day. Bamba Dieng is at the airport right now (!) with his agent negotiating with OGC Nice and Leeds now furious after reaching an agreement with OM and player earlier today. 🚨⚪️ #DeadlineDay
…up to the player, or to club’s decision. pic.twitter.com/sfu6jd0iRO
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 1, 2022
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