Lazio Turn to Senegalese Free Agent as Gattuso Rules Out Noslin for Striker Role | OneFootball

Lazio are considering a move for Lorient centre-forward Bamba Dieng, who will become a free agent at the end of the month.

Gennaro Gattuso’s Lazio Requests

Although the official confirmation has yet to arrive, Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed as the club’s new head coach. The 48-year-old is expecting at least four new additions to his squad, with the striker considered at the top of his priority list.

Tijjani Noslin Won’t Be Lazio’s Striker

According to Il Messaggero, the versatile Tijjani Noslin was proposed as an internal solution for the centre-forward role, but Gattuso doesn’t see the Dutchman as the right profile to lead the line. Instead, he believes the former Hellas Verona man can play in any of the three supporting roles behind the striker in the 4-2-3-1 formation.

The newspaper believes Noslin is also an option on the right wing, where Gustav Isaksen is expected to lock himself a starting role. This would free up Matteo Cancellieri, who is reportedly waiting for Fiorentina’s offer.

With Noslin ruled out of the running, and Boulaye Dia and Petar Ratkov considered unconvincing options, Lazio must buy a new marksman this summer. While Cagliari’s Sebastiano Esposito was mentioned in recent weeks, the source believes this remains an unlikely track, as the 23-year-old doesn’t represent the consistent goalscorer the Aquile are seeking.

Lazio Consider Signing Bamba Dieng on a Free Transfer

The source identifies Lorient’s Dieng as a plausible solution, especially with his contract expiring at the end of the season. The 26-year-old is a Senegalese international who earned his World Cup ticket on the back of an impressive campaign that saw him score 16 goals in 26 appearances across all competitions. He was favored over Lazio’s Dia, who was omitted from the squad.

Dieng’s Career Path

Dieng began his career in Senegal with Diambers before being poached by Olympique Marseille in 2020. Lorient signed him in January 2023, but he spent the previous campaign on loan at Angers, before making his return to ‘Les Merlus’ last summer, and producing the best campaign of his career thus far.