Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Mamadou Mbaye to Elland Road.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to a report from Spain (via Sport Witness), which claims that, after the 24-year-old ‘burst like a freight train’ into the Cádiz CF first team, the centre-back is now being monitored by a number of Premier League clubs – with Leeds, Southampton and Brighton & Hove Albion named as potential suitors.
However, the report goes on to state that, as a result of his impressive impact in LaLiga, Los Piratas are already working to tie the former Senegal U20 international down to a new contract at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla – with the defender’s current deal set to expire in the summer of 2024.
Orta’s next diamond
While it is true that, despite being 24 years of age, Mbaye has just four first-team appearances to his name, considering just how impressive the Senegalese sensation has been since his debut, coupled with the centre-back’s eye-catching returns for Cádiz CF Mirandilla last season, the defender could well prove to be Victor Orta’s next diamond in the rough.
Indeed, over his 13 Segunda Federación appearances in 2021/22, the £860k-rated talent scored an extremely impressive three goals and registered one assist – playing a key role in his side securing a seventh-place finish in the lower leagues of Spanish football.
Following this campaign, in addition to being “one of the positive notes of preseason” for Cádiz – in the words of Marca journalist Ángel Cotán – Sergio promoted Mbaye to his senior squad for 2022/23, before handing the 24-year-old his LaLiga debut in a 4-0 defeat to Barcelona back in September.
However, while debuts do not come much harder than a visit of the Catalans, the centre-back highly impressed in his next league outing – a 0-0 draw with Real Betis Balompié – making five clearances, one interception and one tackle over the course of his 90 minutes on the pitch, as well as enjoying 54 touches of the ball, completing 31 passes and attempting four long balls.
These returns saw the defender earn an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.0, ranking him as Cádiz’s best-performing outfielder to start the match.
As such, while Orta – as well as Southampton and Brighton – will no doubt want to scout Mbaye much more before deciding whether or not to sanction a swoop for the Senegalese starlet, should the 24-year-old continue to impress in Spain, he could well become the director of football’s next diamond in the rough at Elland Road.
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