Premier League leaders Liverpool have reportedly scouted Sporting CP defensive sensation Ousmane Diomande, whose release clause is worth £70 million.
According to a report by Daily Mail, Ousmane Diomande is the subject of interest from Liverpool. The Reds are in the market for a centre-back and have set their sights on the Sporting CP defensive sensation. The Ivory Coast international has a release clause worth £70 million in his contract with the Portuguese club.
The Rise of Ousmane Diomande
Ousmane Diomande has come leaps and bounds since arriving in Europe. The 20-year-old spent most of his formative years in his homeland before joining Midtjylland in January 2022. He went from strength to strength during his 12 months with the Danish club before joining Sporting CP in January 2023.
Diomande has turned out 38 times thus far for Sporting CP, chipping in with three goals and one assist. The Ivory Coast international has also risen in stature on the international stage, making four appearances thus far. Meanwhile, the youngster’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs.
Premier League bigwigs, in particular, are keen on signing the Ivorian centre-back. Recent reports have pointed to Newcastle United being in the pole position to land him. Diomande now has an admirer in Liverpool, with the Merseyside club’s scouts running the rule over him this season.
Liverpool Join Diomande Chase
Liverpool should invest in a centre-back in the summer transfer window. The Reds have an ageing central defensive unit, with Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk on the wrong side of 30. In addition, the former has entered the final six months of his contract with Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Joe Gomez’s fitness issues mean he cannot be the undisputed first-choice centre-back for Liverpool. Ousmane Diomande is thus a viable target for Liverpool, with the player potentially being the ideal long-term partner for Ibrahima Konate. The 20-year-old has a release clause worth £70 million in his contract with Sporting CP.
Diomande is not the only centre-back on Liverpool’s radar, with the Reds also setting their sights on Antonio Silva and Goncalo Inacio. It will be interesting to see if the £70 million-rated defender arrives at Anfield in the summer transfer window.
