Crystal Palace are “prepared to pay a club-record fee” for defender Ousmane Diomande and have “made progress” on his contract terms, according to Ryan Taylor of the Daily Mirror.
The 2024/25 season will be forever remembered by Crystal Palace fans, who watched their club win their first-ever major English honour by beating Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final. The victory saw Palace qualify for next season’s Europa League, which will be their first venture into European football.
Oliver Glasner has been simply sensational since arriving at Selhurst Park in early 2024, implementing a high-energy brand of football in South London. With European fixtures now on their calendar, the Eagles have been linked with a number of incomings as they prepare for what could be a pivotal season.
Now, reports have suggested that Palace are edging closer to signing this sensational defender.
Palace Progressing On Diomande Deal
Eagles are ready to break their transfer record
Ousmane Diomande
The Daily Mirror’s Ryan Taylor has reported that Crystal Palace have “made progress on personal terms with Ousmane Diomande.” The central defender has been with Sporting since 2023 and soon became an essential part of their first team. The Ivorian has helped the club win two Primeira Liga titles in as many years.
Ousmane Diomande 24/25 Season Stats
Competition
Primeira Liga
Champions League
Portuguese Cup
Portuguese League Cup
Palace captain Marc Guehi has been linked with a move to Liverpool and should the English international depart, the Eagles would need to replace him. In Diomande, Palace are signing one of the best defensive players on the market, though as Taylor notes, the Ivorian would represent a club-record deal for Palace, something that Glasner has given the green light for.
A player with European experience, Diomande, who has been described as an "absolute freak," would fit seamlessly into Glasner’s three-at-the-back system and should Palace agree a deal for the defender, it would be a statement signing to the wider league.
Sign up toThe GIVEMESPORT Reportto get exclusive daily updates from Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs, Dean Jones and Tom Bogert sent straight to your inbox.
( All stats are fromTransfermarktand are correct as of 21/06/2025 )
Oliver Glasner Related
Crystal Palace Eyeing £35m 'Cold-Blooded Killer', Could Replace Mateta
Crystal Palace are eyeing Villarreal striker Thierno Barry ahead of a potential move.