Manchester United are being credited with interest in Ousmane Diomande again.
Portuguese outlet A Bolareport that contract negotiations between Sporting and the defender have stalled.
The outlet explains that the 21-year-old has resisted Sporting’s attempts to extend his deal from 2027 to 2030, even with a significant salary increase on the table.
For Manchester United, this creates a scenario worth monitoring, especially given Ruben Amorim’s long-standing admiration for the player.
The Portuguese coach knows Diomande well from their time together in Lisbon, where the centre-back became a starter and one of the most valuable assets in the squad.
According to A BOLA, Manchester United keep the defender “under observation”, joining a Premier League group that includes Crystal Palace and Newcastle United.
The stalled talks are seen as a practical advantage for these clubs, since Diomande will enter the final year of his contract in the summer of 2026 if no renewal is agreed.
Sporting offered a salary jump from roughly €400k net (€800k gross) per year to at least double that figure, along with maintaining his €80m (£69m) release clause. Yet Diomande’s entourage prefers to wait and assess market opportunities, particularly in England.
Manchester United, who it’s believed have monitored the situation quietly, may view this as a window to move for a defender already aligned with Amorim’s footballing ideas.
Sporting, however, intend to continue pushing for a renewal. With over 110 appearances for the club, he remains central to their sporting project. We’ll see if United attempt to turn this moment of uncertainty into concrete action.