TBR Football can now exclusively reveal that Crystal Palace have experienced a problem in their quest to sign Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP.
Crystal Palace could lose Marc Guehi this summer – the England international only has 12 months remaining on his contract – and the Eagles are therefore targeting an ambitious move for the Sporting CP No.26 as a replacement.
However, TBR Football understand talks between Crystal Palace and Sporting CP over Ousmane Diomande have hit a bump in the road – partly due to Arsenal.
Exclusive: Sporting CP want £69m for Ousmane Diomande as Viktor Gyokeres nears Arsenal move
Graeme Bailey – Chief Correspondent at TBR Football – has now been told that Sporting CP are demanding the full €80m (£69m) release clause to sell the Ivorian defender to Crystal Palace.
We understand Crystal Palace were prepared to pay €55m (£48m) for Diomande – who Tottenham also like – but with Sporting CP set to bank around £65m from the sale of Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal, the Portuguese giants are not looking to sell any other stars.
Rui Borges – manager of Sporting CP – is believed to have met with the club’s hierarchy in recent weeks to emphasise just how important the 21-year-old is to his project, along with Morten Hjulmand and Francisco Trincao.
Bailey says: “Palace thought they had a breakthrough with Diomande, but they have been waiting on the Portuguese club. Now they have been told that a deal, if they want it, is going to be a lot more expensive.
“Diomande, I am told, was open to the move. He wants to play in the Premier League, but it is now in doubt whether that will be with Palace.
“The deal is not dead. Oliver Glasner really wants him, but it has just become a bit more complicated at the Sporting end.”
Crystal Palace also like Rav van den Berg
Diomande – who enjoyed a dominant 2024/25 campaign as Sporting CP won the Primeira Liga and the Taca de Portugal – is not the only central defender being monitored by Crystal Palace.
Ousmane Diomande – Primeira Liga 24/25:
☑️31 games
⚽️2 goals
🔄76 passes per 90
📈94% pass accuracy
🛡️1.3 tackles per 90
🥷1.1 interceptions per 90
🧹2.9 clearances per 90
⚔️53% of ground duels won
✈️65% of aerial duels won
21 years of age. A fantastic CB to watch with a huge… pic.twitter.com/QAN2WXUwYo
— Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) June 14, 2025
View Tweet
TBR Football have learned that Crystal Palace like Rav van den Berg of Middlesbrough, and also admire his teammate Hayden Hackney, who plays in central midfield.
It is unclear whether the Dutchman is internally viewed as a backup for Diomande at Selhurst Park, but the man born in Abidjan is certainly not the only defender on the shortlist.