Sky Sports duo Anthony Joseph and Luca Bendoni report that Norwich City are now leading the race to sign Metz winger Pape Diallo, who was previously the subject of intense interest from Championship rivals Watford.
Pape Diallo Transfer Saga Looks Set To End
The Canaries are reportedly close to agreeing a deal which will bring the 21-year-old to Carrow Road on a permanent basis, thus bringing to an end a transfer saga which has been ongoing since the start of July.
Paulo Pezzolano’s Watford were initially interested in bringing the seven-cap Senegal international winger to England. The Hornets agreed a fee of £4.3 million with the French club and the winger even had a medical with Watford at the start of the month.
Almost a week later, Norwich began trying to hijack the Hornets’ move as delays due to visa technicalities meant that Watford were unable to complete the deal for Diallo. It is thought that it should be easier to obtain a work permit for the attacker following the start of the Ligue 1 season.
Now, Joseph and Bendoni report that Norwich are leading the race to sign the exciting young winger.
Watford are very relaxed about the situation as Othmane Maamma, who arrived in Hertfordshire from Montpellier earlier in the summer, has impressed Pezzolano in training, and the Hornets are now set to keep the 19-year-old in the first team squad instead of sending him out on loan.
Where Could Diallo Fit In At Norwich?
It has been a slightly difficult first summer in charge at Carrow Road for Liam Manning.
His side have already lost one of their star attackers from last season in Borja Sainz, who has moved to Portuguese giants FC Porto, whilst there is also intense interest in last season’s Player of the Season, Josh Sargent.
Danish frontman Mathias Kvistgaarden has already been recruited to boost the Canaries’ strike force, but there is certainly a gap in the squad on the left wing that Diallo could fill.
Currently, the East Anglian giants have no wingers who would prefer to play on the left-hand side of the attack, though they may not need too many players in that position if Manning employs the same system that he did with Bristol City, which involved two number 10s instead of two wingers.
Writer’s View
This is an interesting signing for Norwich.
Given the money they have already received for Sainz, and the money they could get for Sargent, one might expect them to look for slightly more established attackers.
Diallo had a good season last year, scoring seven times and making four assists in the league, but he only started 22 of Metz’s games in the French second tier.
Canaries fans will be hoping that Manning can take Diallo’s game to the next level.
