By Joe Ellis

5th Aug, 2022 | 6:30am

Everton enter race to sign Senegal international Bamba Dieng

Everton have joined a competitive race to sign Senegal striker Bamba Dieng from Marseille this summer, according to 90min.

The 22-year-old, who was part of the side that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2022, enjoyed his best ever goal-scoring season during 2021-22 with seven goals from across the French side’s forward line.

It was his first full campaign in Ligue 1 having joined Marseille from the Diambars Academy in his homeland but things have now changed at the Velodrome.

Dieng has played very little of pre-season having been almost frozen out of the Marseille squad which has seen Everton take an interest in signing him but they are not alone.

Leeds United, West Ham United, Newcastle United, Wolves and Crystal Palace are all in the hunt with the Toffees as are clubs in Germany and Spain as new Marseille coach Igor Tudor makes drastic changes.

Must buy

Now that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is sidelined for the first couple of months of the 2022-23 campaign (at least) Frank Lampard desperately needs reinforcements at striker and Dieng could be the perfect medicine.

While the England international recovers, the 22-year-old can fill in un front but once Calvert-Lewin returns he can just as easily move to the left or right wing and could even form a strike partnership with the current Toffees number nine.

That kind of versatility is extremely needed within the squad at Finch Farm and even if Anthony Gordon and Dwight McNeil are seen as the main duo out wide, they can’t play every minute.

So when they need a rest, whether that be entirely or only playing a portion of a game, Dieng can be a brilliant player to bring on with his athleticism likely to cause problems for a tiring defence.

A transfer would have to occur in record time for him to be available to play Chelsea but as long as he can be signed before the window closes, Kevin Thelwell must not hold back.