Ousmane Diomande is a reported target for Brighton. Clubs across England and Europe are chasing his signature.Ousmane Diomande is a reported target for Brighton. Clubs across England and Europe are chasing his signature.
Ousmane Diomande is a reported target for Brighton. Clubs across England and Europe are chasing his signature. | AFP via Getty Images
Man Utd are hard at work to strengthen a squad in desperate need of repair but who is defensive target Ousame Diomande?
Manchester United have started the summer with the intent that they need to if they are to rebuild a squad in desperate need of repair.
A signing that would be a real statement of intent would be Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is open to a move to Old Trafford and who United are considering making a move for. At a reported £33m, there is a lot to like about a goalkeeper yet to hit his peak and with an enviable CV at just 26-years old.
All of them are priority positions, however, thoughts of climbing the table will be put to bed if the defence hasn’t been sorted by the time that the transfer window slams shut.
Who is Ousmane Diomande, linked with Ruben Amorim reunion at Man Utd?
The Red Devils have been linked with Ousmane Diomande recently, but he has long been suggested as a player who Amorim would love to be reunited with after their time spent together at Sporting Lisbon.
At 21-years old, it would be easy to assume that he is inexperienced although nothing could be further from the truth for the eight-times capped Ivory Coast international.
With nearly 120 senior appearances, Diomande has played a lot of games for a young centre-half and has shown his maturity since moving to Europe to play for Midtjylland.
The Danes never actually got to see the 6ft 3inch tall stopper player for them after a loan spell to Portuguese outfit Mafra was enough to persuade Sporting to part with over £5m for his services in a deal that could eventually rise to £10m. If United want to sign him now, that fee would be in the region of £51m.
In terms of style of play, Diomande is the prototypical modern centre-half and the type that Amorim needs for his system to be a success.
Comfortable in possession, Diomande can handle pressure and keeps it simple when playing out from the back, he won’t panic or rush into long-balls into space, instead, choosing to pick out his full-back or midfielders.
His other main attribute is his speed, although this can also be an issue when he thinks that he can nick the ball off opposition forwards. Expect a rash tackle or two if United seal the deal.
Who could be dropped to make way for Diomande?
Until a foot injury suffered in April, Matthijs de Ligt started all but a few Premier League games for United with Harry Maguire starting just 50% of his 27 appearances. Leny Yoro was picked from the start for 27% and Victor Lindelof for 16%.
Lisandro Martinez started every league game until his anterior cruciate ligament knee injury in February, but he probably won’t be fit enough to be available for selection until next year.
Andre Onana didn’t exactly inspire confidence in goals, however, changing the back three so often clearly didn’t help the stability of the team.
Until Martinez returns, a three of De Ligt, Maguire and Diomande is the most likely combination with Yoro missing out. All United and Amorim need to do now is beat off half of Europe to land the talented defender.
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