Portsmouth face fresh Championship competition in race to sign £8.6m striker also linked with Blackburn and Leicester

The race to sign Bamba Dieng is heating up, with Pompey facing fresh competition from fellow Championship rivals Hull City to secure his services.

The Blues were one of a host of English and European clubs tipped with a summer swoop for the striker, who is currently impressing in Ligue 1.

According to Football Insider’s chief transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke, who claimed the 26-year-old was on the radar at Fratton Park along with Blackburn Rovers and relegated-duo Oxford United and Leicester City.

Reports on the continent also tipped Bundlesliga outfit St Pauli and La Liga side Real Betis, who are believed to be favourites to land his signature in the upcoming transfer window.

Fresh competition in Pompey’s reported chase for Bamba Dieng

Dieng is out of contract at the end of the campaign despite flourishing in France’s top flight.

The Senegal international has netted 15 goals in 23 outings in all competitions to date, including nine in his past 14 Ligue 1 appearances.

His contributions haven’t gone unnoticed, with Pompey’s Championship rivals taking note of his current performances.

Play-off chasing Hull City are the latest to register an interest in Dieng, who could be signed on a free transfer this summer.

According to O’Rourke, the Tigers have identified the former Marseille talent as a potential target in the window as Sergej Jakirovic looks to bolster his front line.

The MKM Stadium outfit are still chasing a top six spot and are level on points with sixth-placed Wrexham heading into the season finale this weekend.

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Bamba Dieng’s Lorient career

After rising through the ranks at the Stade Velodrome, Dieng completed a 10 million euro (£8.6m) switch to Lorient in January 2023.

Following his big-money move, the 21-cap Senegal international has subsequently netted 22 goals in 57 outings at the Stade du Moustoir and is presently Les Merlus’ top scorer this term.

With his future uncertain at the ninth-placed Ligue 1 outfit, Lorient sporting director - and former Arsenal defender - Laurent Koscielny recently stated his desire at handing Dieng fresh terms in a bid to keep him at the club beyond the summer window.

Speaking to French news outlet Le Telegramme, he said: ‘We’ll try to extend his contract. That doesn’t mean we’ll succeed. It also depends on what we’re capable of offering.

‘If we can agree on a joint project spanning a few years, it will be with great pleasure.

‘He’s a lad who embodies our values, with a great deal of humility. I remember he was sidelined a bit at the start because there was a desire for him to leave.

‘He’s been very professional. It’s up to us to do what’s necessary so we can continue on this journey together.’

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