Newcastle could 'look at' signing 'next Sadio Mane' to St James' Park

Newcastle United are interested in signing Marseille striker Bamba Dieng this summer and may look at him as a long-term project, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Eddie Howe has overseen a quiet summer window at St James’ Park but there is plenty of time left to do business ahead of the September 1 deadline.

Only three new faces have made the move to the North East to sign for Newcastle this summer with Nick Pope, Sven Botman and Matt Targett the arrivals so far.

Big spending was expected from the club now owned by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund but they have so far restrained from extravagant purchases.

James Maddison has been targeted but with a £50 million bid rejected, and Leicester City holding out for £60 million, it is a deal that looks increasingly unlikely.

But new attackers seemingly remain on the radar. As per a report from 90Min, Newcastle are among the sides chasing the “next Sadio Mane” in the form of Marseille striker Dieng.

West Ham and Leeds are also interested according to the same outlet, with Newcastle and the Hammers also showing interest back in January.

Dieng has been frozen out by Marseille’s new manager, Igor Tudor, and has struggled for game time in pre-season and was left out of the squad completely for their Ligue 1 curtain-raiser against Reims.

Jones understands that should Newcastle bring in Dieng this summer that he could be viewed as an asset for later in the campaign.

The transfer insider told GIVEMESPORT: “It could be that Dieng is somebody that they look at as a player that won’t be expected to set the world alight as soon as he comes in, but can definitely make an impact as the season wears on, especially, as we’ve seen this first weekend with so many substitutes being