Sporting's Diomande is a man in demand

Reports in England on Wednesday morning have suggested that Chelsea are currently leading the race to sign Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande during the January transfer window.

‘Footy Insider’s Transfer Correspondent, Pete O’Rourke, has reported that The Blues are currently attempting to structure a deal with the Primeira Liga league leaders as they try and, once again, bolster their ranks.

It is also believed that both Arsenal and Newcastle United have an interest in the Ivorian centre-back, who has collected one cap for his national team so far.

Diomande began his professional career in Denmark with Midtjylland but spent a year in Portugal’s second-tier with Mafra before signing for Sporting on a permanent deal without ever playing for the Danish club.

It is believed that a deal for the 20-year-old would cost in the region of around £35 million, although he does have a release clause of 70 million euros. 

Chelsea’s spending since the takeover of Todd Boehly in the summer of 2022 has been astronomical, reaching over £1 billion in just three transfer windows.