Middlesbrough in talks to sign forward eyed by QPR & West Brom | OneFootball

Middlesbrough are in talks to sign QPR and West Bromwich Albion target Bamba Dieng this summer

Middlesbrough have their sights set on promotion next season after missing out on a place in the Premier League last time around, as Kim Hellberg looks to continue to add to his side's attacking options.

Having missed out on promotion in heartbreaking circumstances last time around, Middlesbrough and their Swedish head coach Kim Hellberg will be looking to make amends.

A strong summer window was a necessity for Boro to kick on and go one better, as the likes of Myles Peart-Harris, Kyle Joseph, and Will Lankshear have arrived through the doors to improve their attacking options, whilst Sebastian Berhalter joins to reinforce the midfield.

Lankshear's potential £20 million move from Tottenham Hotspur and Joseph's £5 million move from Hull City will have taken a huge chunk out of their transfer budget, but as Hellberg doesn't appear to be done reinforcing his attack just yet, a free move for an international forward could be on the cards.

Middlesbrough are in talks with Senegalese forward Bamba Dieng

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According to French journalist Santi Aouna via X, Middlesbrough are interested in Senegalese forward Bamba Dieng, who recently became a free agent after his contract with Lorient expired this summer.

Dieng, 26, to date, has spent his entire professional career in France with the likes of Marseille, Angers, and most recently Lorient, the latter of whom he scored ten goals and assisted once for in 22 top-flight games last season.

With 24 caps and two goals for Senegal under his belt, Dieng represented his nation at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as well as the recent tournament in North America, where he could only earn seven minutes on the pitch.

Now, the forward is a free agent, and according to Santi Aouna, Premier League outfit Hull City have also held discussions with Dieng, who is reportedly ready to turn down offers from Saudi Arabia to make the move to England this summer.

Whilst Hull will likely push Boro all the way for his signature, they are not the only English side that have registered an interest in the 26-year-old.

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Both Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion have previously expressed an interest in signing Dieng this summer, as per transfer correspondent Pete O'Rourke via X.

The second-tier duo will face an uphill battle to tempt Dieng to join them over either Boro or Hull, who were each one game away from the Premier League just a few months ago, with the latter proving to be the victors.

With Transfermarkt valuing the Senegalese international at around €15 million, he could be a real financial bargain this summer for any team that picks him up.

Boro will be hoping to be the ones to win that race, having already added a trio of attacking options to their roster this summer, with Dieng providing Hellberg another option in the final third on Teesside ahead of a promotion push next year.

Kim Hellberg is still eyeing up additions in the final third amid Bamba Dieng links

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With Dieng having entered Boro's radar, Hellberg has made his intentions of adding reinforcements in the final third abundantly clear.

Prior to his move to Southampton, Lewis Dobbin was a player who was on Middlesbrough's radar, as the Swedish head coach looks to continue to stamp his authority at the Riverside.

Boro's task of signing Dieng appears far from straightforward, however, with competition from Hull, as well as the previous interest from QPR and West Brom, the Senegalese forward will not be short on options.