Seydou Doumbia rejoined former club CSKA Moscow this season after an unsuccessful spell with Roma, but claims he held talks with a number of English clubs before making his decision, as reported by the Daily Star.
Doumbia was prolific during his time in Russia, with a record of roughly a goal every game and a half. He struggled badly in Serie A though, and scored just three goals in a handful of appearances.
As the Star reports, we were once linked with a move for the 27-year-old, but the transfer never materialised.
The Ivory Coast international claims he held talks with several English clubs before returning to Moscow on loan, but suggests a move to the Premier League was never really close.
“I had contacts with English clubs, but CSKA was the best solution,” Doumbia told Africa Top Sports (via Daily Star).
“I wasn’t happy and I wanted to come back.
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“Since the first day in Rome I didn’t feel good. Now I’m back to CSKA Moscow and I’m happy again.
“I’m still owned by Roma but I have no intention of going back.”
Despite Doumbia’s struggles in Italy, he is still a top quality striker. It’s unclear whether he would have settled in England, but if we could have got him on loan it could have been an excellent bit of business.
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We are badly lacking options up front, with Olivier Giroud our only out and out striker. Doumbia would have offered us a different dimension going forward, and it’s a shame we weren’t able – or didn’t try – to bring him in.
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