As each day passes, it is becoming more and more apparent that Leeds United not signing Bamba Dieng on the final day of the summer transfer window was a real blessing in disguise.
The Whites turned to Dieng after failing to sign Cody Gakpo. The Athletic reported at the time that a £10 million fee was agreed with Marseille for the 22-year-old. And Leeds paid for a flight to get the striker over to England to complete the deal.
However, Dieng never turned up. As noted by The Athletic, Dieng decided to hold out for a potential move to Nice. That left Leeds having to make a last-ditch bid to sign Willy Gnonto from FC Zurich as the deadline loomed.
Lorient medical for Leeds-linked Dieng shows knee problem
Did Dieng get the move to Nice however? No, he did not.
Again, as noted by The Athletic, the deal would fall through after his medical.
Dieng, unsurprisingly, has not had the best time back at Marseille. He has only scored once in Ligue 1 this season. And it seems that a move could be on the cards in this window.
There have even been suggestions that Leeds remain admirers. Mohamed Toubache suggested on Wednesday that the Whites have returned to the table in a potential bid to sign the youngster.
It is hard to see why the Whites would still want Dieng. Georginio Rutter has arrived in a club-record deal. And Leeds now have real depth in the final third.
And of course, there would be an uncomfortable relationship between Dieng and the Leeds fans if he made the move given what went on in the summer. Certainly, he would have to hit the ground running.
Worryingly for the player, the latest updates on his future are not positive. In fact, Foot Mercato is now reporting that Dieng has undergone a medical with Lorient as Marseille pursue a deal for Terem Moffi.
It is suggested that he passed the medical. However, the same problem with his knee that put paid to his Nice move in the summer has come up again. And thus, there is now doubt that he will be making the switch to Lorient.
It is a sad state for Dieng if true. But the warning signs are there. And if Leeds did indeed have any remaining interest in a deal, surely that pursuit should now come to an abrupt end.