Nottingham Forest are in advanced talks with Sporting CP over a deal worth around €45m for Ousmane Diomande, with the Ivory Coast defender understood to have given his initial approval to a move to the Premier League club.
Sporting and Forest remain in negotiations over the final details of the transfer, but both sides are described as edging towards an agreement over the 21-year-old centre-back.
Journalist Sebastiao Sousa-Pinto reports that Sporting are seeking about €45m in total, including add-ons, as they look to capitalise on Diomande’s rising market value while remaining open to discussion on how the fee is structured.
The talks are focused on balancing a guaranteed fixed sum with performance-related bonuses, based on both individual and team achievements. That framework is seen as a possible route to a swift compromise between the Portuguese and English clubs.
Diomande gives green light to Forest project
While the clubs continue to bargain over the fee, Diomande has already taken a significant step by agreeing in principle to join Nottingham Forest.
The central defender is said to have been persuaded by Forest’s sporting project and the chance to test himself in the Premier League. His personal agreement removes one of the major hurdles in the process and is helping to smooth negotiations, although no transfer can be finalised until a full financial deal is in place.
Forest have been highly active in this summer’s window and are prioritising reinforcements at the back before the new season begins. Diomande’s attributes are seen as a strong fit for their plans, with his physical strength, composure in possession and ability to operate in both a back three and a back four matching the profile the club has been seeking.
One of Portugal’s standout young defenders
Diomande has produced a series of impressive displays for Sporting CP, establishing himself as one of the most promising defenders in the Portuguese league and earning full international recognition with Ivory Coast.
His potential has attracted interest from several European clubs in recent months, but Nottingham Forest are currently considered to be in the strongest position to secure his signature.
The coming hours are viewed as potentially decisive, as both clubs work to bridge the remaining gap in valuations and aim to close a deal close to the €45m mark, including objectives.
Barring an unexpected twist, Diomande is moving increasingly close to a switch to the Premier League, where a new challenge would await him at Nottingham Forest.
The defender is under contract with Sporting CP until June 2030 and is currently valued at €42m on Transfermarkt. His annual salary at the Portuguese club is reported to be €3,460,000 (2,249,000,000 FCFA).
