Aliou Dieng ‘to join’ Valencia in July after winter move delayed | OneFootball

Valencia are closing a deal for Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng from Al Ahly, with the 28-year-old set to strengthen the midfield next season and join in July.

Tribuna Deportiva reports that the agreement is already fully sealed with documents signed, and that he will report to Paterna from one July, in a move driven by the new technical secretariat, with Lisandro Isei a key advocate.

The operation was close to being completed this winter, but it has been pushed to the summer window. He follows Justin de Haas in Valencia’s planning for next season.

Valencia’s sporting department, headed by Ron Gourlay, rate Dieng’s ball-winning, tactical profile and scope for development, despite his lack of experience in the major leagues. He is expected to add physicality in midfield, matching the profile the club have been targeting.

The club worked on multiple winter moves and managed to land several plan As. In defence they pursued De Haas as well as a LaLiga-ready centre-back, securing Spaniard Unai Núñez and also tying up the Famalicão defender for the summer on a free.

In midfield, given their league position, they sought a more immediate option such as Guido Rodríguez, even though he was not playing in England. Dieng almost arrived in winter when talks for Rodríguez were close to collapse, but the Argentine deal went through and Valencia have locked in Dieng for the summer.

Source: Superdeporte