Crystal Palace have explored an ambitious deal for Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande – one of the most highly rated centre-backs in Europe – as they look to build on their FA Cup triumph last season.
With Marc Guehi entering the final year of his contract, bids are expected for the Palace captain this summer and the club have been looking at possible targets in the event of needing to bolster Oliver Glasner’s back line.
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Diomande, 21, represents the level of Palace’s aspirations for next season as the Ivory Coast international has been watched by scouts of the Premier League’s heavyweight teams over the last three seasons in Portugal’s top-flight.
He was nurtured by Ruben Amorim at Sporting and has inevitably been linked to Manchester United as the Portuguese head coach reshapes his squad. Chelsea have also looked at Sporting’s young players and have already moved to sign winger Geovany Quenda.
Geovany Quenda (left) has moved from Sporting to Chelsea
Sporting’s Geovany Quenda (left) has agreed to join Chelsea next summer - Shutterstock/Miguel A Lopes
But all clubs across Europe have been aware of Diomande ever since his breakthrough into senior football following his January 2023 move from Danish club Midtjylland, who have a track record of developing players for the big European teams.
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Diomande has two seasons left on his contract at Estadio Jose Alvalade which could impact his price over the next year, although he would be expected to cost at least £45 million in the current market, given Quenda’s deal to go to Chelsea in a year.
Amorim started him in Sporting’s 4-1 win over Manchester City last season – the manager’s last home game for the Lisbon club – and he made 31 appearances in the Primeira Liga across the campaign.
There are no guarantees over Guehi leaving Selhurst Park this summer, with official bids yet to be made for the England centre-back. Newcastle United came close to agreeing a fee for him last summer but fell just short, while Tottenham Hotspur have previously shown interest. After coming through the Chelsea academy, the west London club are also keeping an eye on his situation.