Nottingham Forest’s proposed move for Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande has reached an impasse, with significant differences preventing the two clubs from reaching an agreement.
The transfer had appeared to be progressing only a few days ago, but negotiations over the Ivory Coast international have now broken down, according to Maisfutebol. The deal had been valued at about 40m euros, although a major change in the relationship between Nottingham Forest and Sporting CP would now be required for discussions to resume during the summer transfer window.
For the time being, Diomande remains a Sporting CP player.
The uncertainty over his future has already affected his involvement on the pitch. The 21-year-old central defender has not featured in any of Sporting CP’s pre-season friendlies while the possibility of a move to England remained unresolved.
If no new agreement is reached, Diomande could soon return to action for the Portuguese club. He is under contract with Sporting CP until June 2030, meaning the club remains in a strong contractual position despite the stalled negotiations.
Diomande continues to attract interest from several clubs, but his future has become uncertain again after the apparent progress made earlier in the week. His estimated market value is 42m euros.
The Ivory Coast defender earns an annual salary of 3,460,000 euros, equivalent to 2,249,000,000 CFA francs.
Nottingham Forest are due to begin their English league campaign against Leeds United. Ahead of that fixture, betting company 1xBet lists Nottingham Forest as the favourites at odds of 2.10. A draw is priced at 3.25, while Leeds United are available at 3.05.
The match will take place as Nottingham Forest prepare for the new league season without certainty over whether Diomande will become part of their defensive options. Unless negotiations are revived, the centre-back is expected to remain linked with Sporting CP, where his long-term contract runs until the end of June 2030.
For now, the proposed transfer remains on hold. The initial valuation of around 40m euros has not led to an agreement, and the two clubs would need to overcome their differences before the move could be reconsidered. In the meantime, Diomande’s absence from Sporting CP’s pre-season matches reflects the disruption caused by the unresolved situation, while interest from other clubs leaves his next step open.
