Nottingham Forest have submitted a £32 million bid for Sporting CP centre‑back Ousmane Diomande, sources reported on Tuesday, as the Premier League club step up preparations for the 2026/27 season.
Forest pressing to reinforce defence
The transfer approach comes amid Forest’s pre‑season training camp in Portugal, with discussions between the two clubs said to be progressing positively. The 22‑year‑old Ivory Coast international has emerged as the club’s prime defensive target after new head coach Oliver Glasner prioritised strengthening the rearguard.
Glasner plans to operate a three‑man defensive unit at the City Ground and views Diomande as a suitable choice to occupy the right‑hand side of that back three. Forest have reportedly monitored the defender for more than a year and believe the current window presents the right opportunity to make a decisive move.
- Bid lodged: £32 million
- Player: Ousmane Diomande, 22, centre‑back
- Current club: Sporting CP
- Other developments: move for Xaver Schlager close to completion
Sporting are understood to value Diomande between £30m and £35m, and European heavyweights including Chelsea, Arsenal and Paris Saint‑Germain have reportedly tracked him for several seasons. Diomande is described as combining physical dominance with composure on the ball and high‑level experience for his age.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 22 |
| Position | Centre‑back |
| Valuation | £30m–£35m |
| Bid | £32m |
Context and wider recruitment
The approach for Diomande arrives alongside other recruitment activity at Forest. The club are reported to be close to completing the signing of former RB Leipzig midfielder Xaver Schlager, 28, who is due to travel to the Algarve training base for a medical before signing an initial two‑year contract as a free agent.
Other targets and contract talks are also ongoing: interest remains in Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall, while negotiations continue over new deals for Neco Williams and Ibrahim Sangare. Sangare, a Mali international, is currently a Forest player and shares international connections with Diomande, who represents the Ivory Coast.
If completed, the capture of Diomande would rank among Forest’s most significant signings in recent seasons and would underline Glasner’s intent to reshape the squad defensively ahead of the new campaign.
How negotiations proceed will be watched closely by supporters in Nottingham, with any incoming centre‑back having to adapt quickly to Forest’s tactical switch and the demands of Premier League football.
