Nottingham Forest are closing in on an agreement worth €40m to sign Sporting defender Ousmane Diomande, with negotiations now at an advanced stage after several weeks of difficulty.
According to Fabrizio Romano, discussions between the Premier League club and Sporting have taken a more positive turn, with the final stages of the deal currently being worked through.
Nottingham Forest are understood to be focusing on the remaining details of the proposed transfer before attempting to complete an agreement with the Portuguese club. Talks had previously encountered a number of complications, delaying the operation and preventing the two sides from reaching a conclusion.
However, the latest developments suggest both clubs have found a way to move negotiations forward. Although the transfer is not yet officially complete, there is confidence among all parties that an agreement can be reached.
The deal is expected to be worth €40m, with Nottingham Forest pushing to conclude the process as quickly as possible. A successful move would give Diomande the opportunity to begin a new stage of his career in England and potentially make his first appearance in the Premier League.
The Ivory Coast international remains under contract with Sporting until June 2030. His market value is estimated at €42m, while his annual salary is reported to be €3,460,000, equivalent to 2,249,000,000 FCFA.
Diomande’s possible arrival would come as Nottingham Forest prepare for their opening match of the English league season against Leeds United. The fixture is set to be the club’s first match of the campaign, adding urgency to Forest’s efforts to resolve the transfer.
The betting company 1xBet lists Nottingham Forest as the favourites for the match, with odds of 2.10 for a home victory. A draw is priced at 3.25, while Leeds United are available at 3.05.
For now, the move remains subject to the completion of the outstanding stages of the negotiations. Despite that, the latest reports indicate that Nottingham Forest and Sporting are much closer to an agreement than they were in previous weeks, with the proposed €40m transfer increasingly likely to be finalised.