Nottingham Forest Steps Up Diomande Pursuit
Nottingham Forest is advancing with Sporting CP in the negotiation to bring Ousmane Diomande to the team ahead of the next season, as per the latest report from Fabrizio Romano.
The new forest manager, Oliver Glasner, is pushing to get the deal done as soon as possible to integrate the player into the team as a key player in the right-hand side of his three-man defense structure.
Glasner Wants Sporting Defender
Nottingham Forest has launched a £30m bid to sign the Sporting center-back as a priority along with closing the deal of Xavier Schagler from RB Leipzig. Oliver Glasner tried to sign Ousmane Diomande during the manager’s tenure at Crystal Palace, but the highly rated defender rejected a move at that time.
One of Europe's Most Promising Centre-Backs
The 22-year-old Ivorian defender is a right-footed player who can play in the right and left halves of central defense and has become a key part of Sporting since 2023 under Rúben Amorim. Despite managerial changes at Sporting, Diomande has remained one of the club's first-choice defenders.
He represented his country in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Why Diomande Fits Forest's Back Three
Glasner is attracted by the traits of a modern-day center back in Ousmane Diomande, he is an excellent carrier and passer of the ball who could break the first line of press effectively. The player also shines in aerial duels.
If the deal is completed, Diomande could form one of the Premier League's most physically dominant defensive partnerships alongside Nikola Milenković and Murillo under Glasner.