Newcastle eye Ousmane Diomande deal, £35m offer could be accepted after agreement reached
Newcastle United have their eyes fixed firmly on a deal for Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande this summer.
The Magpies have identified the 22-year-old as an ideal target to add further quality to their backline ahead of next season, but they look set to face competition for his signature from Crystal Palace, according to A Bola.
The Portuguese outlet understands that both Newcastle and the Eagles are tracking the centre-back “very carefully” at the moment, with a view to making a move for him in the summer.
Eddie Howe’s side have struggled with a lack of depth in the centre of their defence this season, and they could now be about to seal a deal for Diomande as part of their attempts to rectify that.
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Sporting agreement puts £35m Newcastle deal on the cards
The Tynesiders have also been linked with Marcos Senesi in recent days as part of their bid to strengthen their defensive options for next term, and they now have Diomande firmly on their agenda.
The Ivory Coast international has quickly made a name for himself since joining Sporting from Midtjylland back in 2023, and his performances have now prompted plenty of attention from the Premier League.
Newcastle now know exactly what it will take to sign the starlet this summer, as they could be about to exploit an agreement that was made between the player and his club last year.
Diomande penned a new deal with the Lisbon giants in January, which ties him down until 2030 and also includes a £70million release clause.
His previous deal had been set to run out in the summer of 2027, and Sporting were forced to reach a “gentleman’s agreement” with Diomande as a result of his reluctance to re-sign.
It was agreed that if an offer in the region of £35-43m arrived for him this summer, then the club hierarchy would pay serious consideration towards accepting it.
Newcastle now know that an offer as little as £35m would see them in serious contention to land the defender this summer, and could even be enough to reach a deal.
Why Crystal Palace may struggle to compete for Diomande
Palace have got Diomande on their radar once again, but it could prove tricky for them to get a deal done after the way their move for him fell through last summer.
The South London outfit were chasing the Sporting starlet as a long-term replacement for Marc Guehi, but ultimately saw their move for him fall through due to disagreements over the player’s valuation.
Oliver Glasner’s side fell a significant way short of Sporting’s asking price for their star, and the selling club could easily hold that against them this summer.
Newcastle have more financial muscle than the Eagles, and with interest building and Diomande looking increasingly likely to leave, his club may value a simple and lucrative sale.
The Magpies are well-placed to provide that for them, and are surely a more likely candidate than Palace after their previous failings.