Chelsea had already placed Ousmane Diomande high on their defensive shortlist for the summer. Now, however, Bournemouth are also moving for the Sporting defender as the Premier League race around him keeps growing.
The 22-year-old centre-back has become one of the hottest defensive names on the market after a season that elevated his reputation across Europe.
Initially, the strongest English interest came from Crystal Palace, whoexplored a move worth around €50m (£43m) last year. Since then, the market around Diomande has changed dramatically.
Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Newcastle United and Manchester United have all been linked at different stages.
Chelsea, though, continue to stand out because of their clear need for defensive reinforcements.
Chelsea see Diomande as ideal profile
Fresh reports from Portuguese outlet O Jogo says Diomande remains one of Chelsea’s defensive targets already under new manager Xabi Alonso.
Chelsea spent large parts of the season struggling with defensive instability. Injuries, inconsistency and constant changes at centre-back created major problems throughout the campaign.
And of course Alonso has not even officially started work at Stamford Bridge yet, but planning for the next transfer window already appears to be underway.
The report presents Diomande as one of the names being discussed for Chelsea’s defensive rebuild ahead of the new era under the Spaniard.
Bournemouth now entering the picture
The new development to this story is Bournemouth’s emergence. According to the same report, the south coast club are looking at Diomande as a possible replacement for Marcos Senesi.
That introduces another Premier League competitor into an already crowded race.
Bournemouth may not operate financially on the same level as Chelsea, PSG or Bayern Munich, but their emergence in the race should not be underestimated.
The south coast club have already secured European football for next season, unlike Chelsea, and that could become an important factor in the conversation around the defender’s future.
Under their current structure, Bournemouth have developed into one of the most competitive and well-organised emerging projects in English football.
Their recruitment has been aggressive and smart, and the club are increasingly willing to compete for players who previously would have ignored that level of Premier League side.
Sporting aware pressure is growing
Sporting renewed Diomande’s contract until 2030 earlier this year and maintained his €80m (£69m) release clause.
Even so, Portuguese reports continue to indicate the club would negotiate below that figure if the right proposal arrives.
That number has also been climbing. Earlier discussions centred around €50m (£43m). More recent reports suggest Sporting may now expect closer to €60m (£52m).
And with the World Cup approaching, there is every chance the valuation rises further.
Chelsea clearly remain serious contenders because of their need for defensive upgrades and Xabi Alonso’s interest in the player.
But Bournemouth joining the race is another sign that Diomande’s market is moving fast – and becoming harder for any single club to control.