Just the facts, Mame:
the inside line on Manchester United's new signing
Diouf Tor-Kristian Karlsen, a Norwegian football scout who has worked for several leading European clubs, gives us the lowdown on Mame Biram Diouf, Molde's Senegalese forward who was signed today by Manchester United. Robert Dineen asks the questions.
Sir Alex Ferguson had said he would not make any further signings this summer. Were you surprised that he moved for Diouf?
There had been much speculation over the past week that he would leave Norway as he scored four goals in Molde's most recent home game in front of about 20 scouts but nobody expected him to go to United.
He had been linked with clubs in Germany and Holland while FC Copenhagen, the biggest club in Scandinavia, had made a bid but he seems to have skipped a rung on the career ladder by signing for United.
How did the signing come about?
Diouf's agent has helped several young players move to United's academy so they had a relationship with him but the strongest link was with Ole Gunnar Solkskjaer, the United reserve team manager who used to play for Molde. You suspect he will have alerted Sir Alex about Diouf and about the increased interest in him over the past few days.
What kind of player is Diouf?
He is centre forward with attributes that make him a very exciting prospect. He is extremely strong, quick and excellent in the air. In his first two seasons at Molde, he had played on the right wing without making a great impact, partly because he was profligate in front of goal. But he switched to centre forward this season and his finishing is hugely improved.
Is he good enough for United?
He certainly has the qualities needed to adapt to the quicker tempo and increased physical demands of English football. He is also popular with team-mates and fans, which suggests he has the personality needed to adapt to the spotlight.
But I'm not sure how close he would get to the United first team and he may have been better served by moving to a side in the middle or lower end of the Premier League.
The fee has not been disclosed. How much is he worth?
Before United moved for him, he was expected to fetch about £2 million but speculation suggests Sir Alex will pay closer to £4 million, beginning with a lump sum and further instalments based on appearances. That would present quite a profit on a player that Molde recruited from an academy in Dakar.
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