Preston can now sign trialist Bambo Diaby as the defender’s ban for doping came to an end today – and Ryan Lowe seems to have been impressed.
Diaby, 24, joined Barnsley from Belgian side Lokeren in 2019, but his time in the Championship was cut short.
Diaby failed a drugs test in January 2020, and when he was handed a two-year ban in October of the same year, Barnsley released him.
The centre back has always maintained his innocence after testing positive for higenamine.
The ban was backdated, meaning Diaby’s ban expired today – January 16th.
Preston took Diaby on trial towards the back end of 2021, allowing him to train at Euxton ahead of a potential deal.
North End may not be rushed into a deal, but with Diaby now able to play again, he may hope for a decision on a potential contract.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe has commented on Diaby, with fans keen to know whether he will be joining the club soon.
Lowe has told Lancs Live that Diaby has caught his eye in training of late, showing the North End boss exactly what he’s all about.
Lowe praised Diaby’s ‘fantastic’ attitude, which all sounds rather positive in terms of the defender signing a permanent deal at Preston.
However, Lowe did note that he is ‘overcrowded’ in certain areas, and that may be a factor when Preston consider doing a deal for Diaby.
“I have spoken to him a couple of times, just football related about the sessions and he’s a good lad,” said Lowe. “He works his socks off and had a bit of a situation where we shut down for a week, he had illness and then a bit of a hamstring (injury). So we had to take all of that into account when coming into the building, obviously I knew who he was, and yeah he’s been training with us.”
“I am sure he is thankful for what we are doing for him and I think over the next week or so, or whenever his ban ends, he is in the building so we’ll take it step-by-step and see where we get to. His attitude has been fantastic and it’s tough isn’t it because I’ve got loads of defenders in the building; his application has been spot on and he is a diamond of a kid who does everything properly.”
“It’s one where I need to sit down really and have a discussion with my staff and Peter (Ridsdale) to see if there is going to be anything in it – we are overcrowded in different areas but he’s certainly caught my eye and it’s whether we can do anything with it. He hasn’t been a main priority because I’ve got a group of players I have to get ready for the weekend,” he added.
Diaby already has some Championship football under his belt and has previously shown outstanding pace and the ability to bring the ball out from the back.
Diaby may be signed now with a view to next season. Sepp van den Berg will return to Liverpool whilst Paul Huntington’s contract will expire this summer.
Able to play as a right-sided centre back or in the middle of a three, Diaby could be a low risk, high reward capture at the back on a free transfer – and with his ban up, a decision should come soon.