Ousmane Diomande is the strong man in Sporting’s defense. Coach Rui Borges sees him as a core player. Despite his importance, no formal offers have arrived at the club’s Alvalade headquarters. This situation comes even as the summer transfer window heats up.
Sporting’s management has made their position clear. They will only consider selling the 21-year-old defender for a specific amount. The price tag stands firm at €60 million. As Record first reported, this figure has not yet been met by any interested parties.
Crystal Palace showed some early interest in the Ivory Coast international. The English club even talked directly with the Portuguese champions. But once they heard the steep asking price, their interest quickly cooled. Palace decided to back away from the deal.
Their pursuit of Diomande was tied to selling their own player, Marc Guéhi. That transfer has not happened. Because of this, Palace is now looking elsewhere for new defensive options. The market is full of choices for them.
Sporting’s leaders know how quickly the transfer market can change. They are ready for anything that might happen before the window closes. They have already picked out other players to target if Diomande does leave. Still, the club’s main wish is to keep him. They want to extend Diomande’s contract, which currently runs until June 2027.