Chelsea have had a bid worth roughly £13.5million rejected by Kasimpasa for free-scoring striker Mbaye Diagne, according to reports.
Diagne, the Senegal forward, has enjoyed a remarkable year since swapping the Chinese Super League for Turkish football this time last year, scoring 32 goals in 34 matches.
He’s netted 20 times in just 17 games this season to fire Kasimpasa into the Super Lig’s top four, and only goal difference separates them from second place.
With a nomadic career prior to hitting the limelight in Turkey – Diagne has played for clubs in Italy, Hungary, Saudi Arabia and Belgium – Diagne is now earning admiring glances from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
And, according to Milliyet, Chelsea have already made an offer for the 27-year-old with Maurizio Sarri on the lookout for a new centre-forward.
However, their £13.5million (€15m) bid was rejected by Kasimpasa, with the Istanbul club only ready to sell Diagne for double the offered fee.
Chelsea are not the first English team to show interest in Diagne, with Championship leaders Leeds United linked with the forward last year.
Moves to Hull City or Wolves have also been rumoured over recent months.
Chelsea’s striker search rumbles on with under three weeks to go until the transfer window shuts, though there were reports on Thursday a deal for Gonzalo Higuain, the Argentina international, could be close as his brother was in London to allegedly meet with the Stamford Bridge club.