Marseille want to sell Bamba Dieng to Leeds United despite higher bid from Nice

Marseille reportedly want to sell Bamba Dieng to Leeds United despite a higher bid from Nice on transfer deadline day.

According to RMC Sport journalist Florent Germain, despite the eleventh-hour interest and a higher bid from the French club, Marseille do not want to strengthen their Ligue 1 rivals.

The 22-year-old is currently on his way to the United Kingdom, but his preference remains to join Nice.

Via Twitter, Germain wrote, "Nice have made a slightly higher offer than Leeds for Bamba Dieng! The player is deep in thought because the Nice challenge interests him."

The RMC report added, "Nice has made a higher offer than Leeds for Bamba Dieng, who is in reflection because he has always been attracted by the Nice challenge. OM prefer him to go to England so as not to strengthen a competitor. Negotiations are continuing."

There's still hope?

Leeds are now in a pretty strong position as Marseille do not want to strengthen a direct rival.

The player is on his way to Leeds already so it does not seem like things will suddenly change even though he once wanted Nice.

They had their chance to sign him but missed it and now it's on Leeds to go out and secure his services.

Whether this means offering better personal terms or even an improved bid, Leeds cannot afford to be seen as weak in this scenario.

Victor Orta must do everything he can to go sign Dieng and see how this last-minute interest from a club rivalled the Whites to the services of the Senegal international.

These are anxious moments in the dying stages of the window and perhaps the price Leeds deserve to pay for leaving such an important position for the final hours of the entire summer.

In other Leeds United news, Whites player seals exit on August 31 as a European club wins the hotly-contested race for his services.