Bamba Dieng was the first player linked with a move to Pompey once their Championship status was secured for another season

Pompey-linked striker Bamba Dieng’s search for a new club controversially continues.

That’s after the Senegal international performed a dramatic U-turn after appearing poised to join Turkish outfit Amedspor.

A free-transfer move to the Süper Lig new boys was reportedly progressing well for the now €14.3m-rated former Lorient striker and looked set to end weeks of speculation about the 26-year-old’s future.

That speculation saw Dieng linked with Pompey, Leicester, Oxford United, West Ham and Wrexham, alongside clubs in Germany, France, Spain and Saudi Arabia.

Now a fresh twist has emerged in his summer-long pursuit of new employers, with reports emerging that the forward refused to travel to Turkey to undergo a medical at Amedspor.

Subscribe now for HALF PRICE and catch every minute of our Pompey coverage this season - from pre-season to the final whistle.

Bamba Dieng’s collapsed move to Amedspor - what reportedly happened

According to French media outlet Foot Mercato, the deal collapsed at the very last minute after certain conditions relating to his move to the Diyarbakır Stadium changed.

This has been attributed to the emergence of third-party intermediaries to the negotiations.

Threats being made to individuals close to the deal have also been reported, which contradicts earlier reports that Dieng had failed a medical at Amedspor.

Indeed, it’s claimed Dieng and his camp walked away from the transfer before he was supposed to fly out to Turkey.

The development leaves the forward, who scored 10 goals in 21 appearances for Lorient last season, without a club as the new season fast approaches.

However, Foot Mercato claims talks are currently taking place with both Hull City and Middlesbrough, with Dieng now favouring a move to England.

In the meantime, Pompey have secured the multi-million pound signing of Serbia striker Marko Milovanovic from UD Almeria, who could make his Blues debut in Saturday’s pre-season friendly at 2. Bundesliga side Darmstadt.

For your next Pompey read: Bamba Dieng: A Portsmouth transfer rumour that smelt off from the start but now officially stinks