Nottingham Forest have entered advanced talks to sign Sporting CP star Ousmane Diomande, under Oliver Glasner's instructions.
Journalist Josh Bunting has suggested that the Ivory Coast international could be a smart signing for Forest, given his ability to play at the back, which is Glasner's preferred formation, saying: “Ousmane Diomande going to the third game Glasner likes to play is the best player for Nottingham Forest.
“We had a great World Cup with the Ivory Coast. A complete defender, he's got pace, he's a quality footballer that every club is looking for in a centre-back these days.”
Although the 22-year-old has yet to prove himself in the Premier League, he knows what it takes to win major titles, having won two league titles with Sporting, and an average of 6.2 tackles per 90 saves last season was the highest in the club.
With Murillo attracting interest from Liverpool, it would be crucial for the Tricky Trees to sign a central midfielder this summer, and there are growing signs that a deal for Diomande could be on the cards.
Nottingham Forest are closing in on Ousmane Diomande
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Nottingham Forest have now entered into advanced negotiations to sign the Sporting defender, and talks have been taking place with the Portuguese club, as well as his agents.
Journalist Ben Jacobs suggested that a formal bid was yet to be made, but confirmed reports that an approach had been made, while also making it clear that Glasner is the front-runner, with Forest willing to shell out €40m (£34m).
It is perhaps unsurprising that Glasner's side are unwilling to release the full €80m (£68m) release clause, as while Diomande has shown promising signs at Sporting, there are still some questions about whether he is a solid player.
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Should Nottingham Forest sign Ousmane Diomande? |
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Benefits |
Evil |
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He is young, which means he has a lot of time to develop |
Never played in the Premier League |
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He played 18 games in the Champions League |
He played just 17 league games last season |
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He has collected 15 caps for the Ivory Coast |
I was not expected to start in the World Cup, I only played once |
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Glasner is a fan, so a deal could please the new Forest boss |
He has missed 17 games due to injury over the past two seasons |
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Murillo is attracting interest, and the Ivorian could be a long-term replacement |
He still doesn't have it |
With Elliot Anderson joining Manchester City, Nottingham Forest will also need to sign a new midfielder this summer, and they have now been given a boost in their pursuit of Celtic star Arne Engels.
