Rejected by Lazio over knee issue, Bamba Dieng heads to Red Star Belgrade

Bamba Dieng is closing in on Red Star Belgrade after a nightmarish week on the transfer market. The 26-year-old Senegalese striker, a free agent since leaving Lorient at the end of last season, saw his move to Lazio Roma fall apart at the last minute: the Roman club detected a knee problem during his medical examination, ending all negotiations.

It is the second consecutive setback for the former Marseille player. Before Lazio, Dieng had begun discussions with Amedspor in Turkey, but the two parties failed to agree on contract terms. Result: several weeks after his Ligue 1 contract ended, the player remains without a club.

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, the Serbian path is now the most advanced. A flight to Belgrade was planned for the coming hours, and a medical with Red Star was set to take place the following day. The timing is particular: the Serbian club is playing the first leg of the Ligue Europa playoff against Viktoria Plzen, and Dieng is expected to attend the match.

If the deal goes through, Dieng would join one of the most decorated clubs from the former Yugoslavia, winner of the Ligue des Champions in 1991 and a regular on the European stage. For a player who has experienced Ligue 1 and attracted interest from Italian and Turkish clubs, the destination remains unexpected, but it would at least offer him the guarantee of playing in European competition from this autumn.