Atalanta have begun tracking Vitoria Guimaraes midfielder Ibrahima Bamba. Their scouts were in the stands in the recent domestic fixture versus Paços de Ferreira. The prospect didn’t have a spotless game but exhibited upside and versatility, as he switched to the defense in the second half, journalist Ekrem Konur reports (via Transfermarkt).
It’s not the first time Serie A teams have taken a look at the 20-year-old. He was born in the Ivory Coast, but he moved to Italy when he was a teenager. He transferred to Portugal after getting his start in the Pro Vercelli’s youth academy. Roberto Mancini called him up for a sort of training camp where he examined a few youngsters in May.
Bamba extended his contract until 2026 two days before the Atalanta emissaries paid a visit to Guimaraes. His new release clause amounts to €30M. He shares some traits with Franck Kessié, whom La Dea acquired from Cesena and groomed before he joined Milan.
The Bergamaschi will continue to retool their roster in January. After almost leaving in the summer, Ruslan Malinovskyi has played sparingly and remains on the chopping block. Olympique Marseille, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham tried to sign onboard in the past window. He could depart on loan to seek minutes, Calciomercato informs.
Our Take on Atalanta Eyeing Bamba
The Orobici and Mancini surely have an eye for talent, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they went after him. They have a great duo in the midfield, but, with Ederson and Mario Pasalic often deployed as no.10s, they don’t have a lot of depth and could use an extra piece. And the departure of Malinovskyi would fit the rest of the puzzle.
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