Glasner is said to be eyeing a defender dealplaceholder image
Glasner is said to be eyeing a defender deal | Getty Images
Crystal Palace are said to be in talks over a powerhouse defender.
Crystal Palace may have already found their replacement for Marc Guehi amid talk the centre-back could depart ahead of the new season. The Eagles have a big summer ahead of them as they look to build a squad big and good enough to compete in not only the Premier League but also the Europa League.
Oliver Glasner’s men enjoyed a very respectable Premier League campaign of last while also winning the FA Cup, but Palace will want to take another step forward while also having a good run in Europe.
Spending will be required to pull that off, while the Eagles also need to keep hold of their best players, with plenty of interest expected in Guehi, Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta in particular. The Guehi situation will be particularly concerning for Palace fans given he is out of contract next summer.
That means that if Palace cannot convince the England defender to sign a new contract, they will be better served selling him this summer, likely to get around £60million from a sale this summer. That situation remains very much open, but according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, there is good news when it comes to signing a new defender.
Romano posted on X: “Crystal Palace are in talks with Sporting CP for Ousmane Diomandé as new centre back. Negotiations underway with player open to Premier League move. Oliver Glasner has also approved Diomandé as target.”
He then added on YouTube: “Let's follow also what happens at Crystal Palace - keep an eye on Palace. They're always very silent in the market in a positive way, because behind the scenes things happen and one of the things happening is their strong interest in signing Ousmane Diomandé from Sporting.
“There is a negotiation already underway, going very well, between Diomandé and Crystal Palace. The agreement with the player is done and now they are working club to club to get it done also with Sporting. So, Ousmane Diomande could be the next signing for Crystal Palace.”
It’s unclear how much Palace will pay for Diomandé, but previous reports have suggested he could cost around £40million. Although, other reports have suggested a price tag of £67million, with Chelsea having been linked with a move for the centre-back this summer. Interestingly, though, the Diomandé deal might actually open the door to Chelsea re-signing Guehi, a move that has also been mooted.
Diomandé almost joined Arsenal
Diomandé could have made the move to the Premier League in 2023 when Arsenal made a move to sign him. His agent, Luis Cassaiano Neves, spoke about the situation at the time. “He is extremely satisfied at Sporting, he is very focused on the club and the objectives for this season, which include winning the national title and improving,” Neves told A Bola.
"And he knows that Sporting is the ideal club for this evolution. The player will be happy to sit at the table with Sporting but so far there is nothing. Sporting is Diomande’s present and future, he wants to evolve but there is nothing regarding renewal.”
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