Liverpool are closely monitoring Sporting centre-back Ousmane Diomande with a potential summer transfer in mind, according to reports from This is Anfield.
The online news portal claims that Diomande has caught the attention of the Reds following the 20-year-old’s recent performances.
Having showcased his talent with Sporting, he has emerged as one of the most promising young players in Portugal this season, amassing 21 appearances and contributing three goals across all competitions.
Diomande is currently representing Ivory Coast in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. In the team’s opening match against Guinea-Bissau, he played for 77 minutes, contributing to a 2-0 victory.
Jurgen Klopp is keen on reinforcing Liverpool’s defensive options, and Diomande has now entered the list of potential candidates for the team’s backline.
With Joel Matip sidelined for the remainder of the season due to an ACL injury and only six months left on his contract, Liverpool are actively seeking alternatives.
As of now, there haven’t been any reported negotiations between the club and Matip, hinting at a likely departure from Anfield in the summer.
According to sources in Portugal, as reported by Liverpool Echo, Diomande is expected to be sold for a significant amount by Sporting in the upcoming transfer window. Consequently, Liverpool may need to make a substantial offer to secure his services.
Reports suggest that Diomande’s price tag could be at least £100 million. In September last year, his agent Luis Cassaiano Neves, played down any imminent move for the defender.
He told A Bola: “He is extremely satisfied at Sporting, he is very focused on the club and the objectives for this season, which include winning the national title and improving.
“And he knows that Sporting is the ideal club for this evolution. The player will be happy to sit at the table with Sporting but so far there is nothing. Sporting is Diomande’s present and future, he wants to evolve but there is nothing regarding renewal.”
In their pursuit of defensive reinforcements, Liverpool have been linked with several players including Chelsea’s Levi Colwill, Lille’s Leny Yoro, Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo, Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah, Kevin Mantill from Telleres, and Facundo Gonzalez, who is currently on loan at Sampdoria from Juventus.
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