Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester City tried to sign Ousmane Diomande before he went to Sporting Lisbon with reports of Newcastle United’s interest coming as no ‘surprise’ to the defender’s former coach.
Ricardo Sousa, who coached the Ivory Coast international during his loan spell at CD Mafra, knew from the very first minute that he had a player of bonafide world-class potential on his hands.
And, since forcing his way into the Sporting Lisbon XI, Ousmane Diomande’s reputation has grown has rapidly as his price-tag.
According to Tipsbladet, Newcastle United are already looking into a deal which could set them back around £60 million, though Eddie Howe’s deep-pocketed side could face competition from a club who have been admiring Diomande from afar for quite some time.
Arsenal are big fans of Ousmane Diomande
“I’m told he’s a player Arsenal have been tracking for a long time,” Fabrizio Romano explains on his Here We Go podcast, claims backed up by a man who has witnessed Diomande’s supreme talents at very close quarters.
“He’s one of those players who doesn’t make mistakes. Manchester City’s main scout called me (during Diomande’s time at Mafra). And, before that, someone from Arsenal had already spoken to the club,“ Sousa, now the head coach at Feirense, tells O Jogo, via Leonino.
“So the recent interest from a club like Newcastle doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.”
Sporting, according to Record, are unwilling to accept offers below Diomande’s £70 million release clause. As such, Newcastle may be forced to break their transfer record yet again under their Saudi Arabian ownership.
Newcastle United’s new record signing?
“Sporting, with all due respect, is just a stepping stone in Diomande’s career,” Sousa adds. He will end up playing in a league with another dimension. He will become one of the best central defenders in the world, there is no doubt about that.
“Sporting will sell him for 80 million euros (£70m), or very close to it.
“He’s good in the air, he knows how to explore spaces, he plays well on the right, in the centre and on the left. He has a good heading game. He can always improve, but he is strong in all aspects.
“He’ll be one of the best in the world.”
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