Ousmane Diomande: Nottingham Forest incoming signing tipped to become the 'best in the world'

Ousmane Diomande is edging towards signing for Nottingham Forest with an agreement close on a deal worth £34million.

Several Premier League teams have been strongly linked with the 22-year-old Sporting CP defender, but the Tricky Trees appear to have secured a bargain.

The Ivory Coast international suffered a disrupted season, making just 31 appearances across all competitions and missing games through both injury and international commitments.

Diomande is expected to occupy one of Oliver Glasner's three-back positions at Nottingham Forest and could pave the way for an exit at the City Ground.

Jair Cunha and Morato have been linked with moves away, with Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic likely set to partner the new man.

Nottingham Forest confirmed their first signing of the season on Thursday, with Xaver Schlager arriving on a free transfer.

Ousmane Diomande has 'enormous talent'

When Sporting CP signed Diomande from FC Midtjylland in 2023 for a fee in the region of £10.5m, they had beaten a host of Premier League clubs.

Arsenal were among the sides tracking him, and they have kept tabs on the 22-year-old throughout his time in Portugal.

Sporting have won the league title twice with the Ivorian at the back and he had only signed a new contract in January, but there is a willingness to cash in for the Portuguese club.

Nottingham Forest will gain a physically dominant force in Diomande, who is also oozing with technical quality and class.

One moment in Sporting CP's Champions League quarter-final clash with Arsenal in April summed that up, with the centre-back playing Maxi Aruajo through on goal with a stunning ball played with the outside of his foot,

"I'm convinced that Diomande will continue to develop and will become one of the best central defenders in the world," Amza Gamal, president of the Olympic Sport Abobo training centre, said when he signed.

"He's very well educated and has his head on straight. He wanted to join a project that would allow him to showcase his enormous talent."

Diomande excelled against Viktor Gyokeres

Interestingly, Diomande has already played against Arsenal on five different occasions over the last few years.

Sporting have won just one of them, but two have ended in draws and Diomande has always stood out.

In last season's quarter-final legs, the 22-year-old dominated his former teammate, Viktor Gyokeres, as the Portuguese side narrowly lost.

If those clashes were anything to go by, Nottingham Forest will be very confident that Diomande is more than ready for Premier League football.