Nottingham Forest has made a £32 million offer for Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande, as reported by the Telegraph.
The Tricky Trees are also nearing a deal for Austrian international Xaver Schlager.
Currently in advanced talks with Sporting, Forest aims to secure an agreement for the Ivory Coast centre-back during their pre-season training camp in Portugal.
The 22-year-old has become the club’s primary target for defense after new manager Oliver Glasner prioritized strengthening that area.
Glasner’s strategy includes implementing a three-man defense, with Forest viewing Diomande as the perfect fit for the right side of this formation.
Diomande boasts physical dominance, composure with the ball, and valuable experience, making him an ideal foundation for Forest’s revamped defense.
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Forest has monitored the talented defender for over a year and believes the time is right to act.
Sporting values Diomande around £35 million, and talks between the two clubs are reportedly progressing well.
The Ivory Coast international, who shares a national team setup with Forest’s Ibrahim Sangare, is considered one of the most promising young defenders in Europe.
Additionally, Forest is expected to finalize Schlager’s signing within the next 48 hours. The 28-year-old is headed to the club’s Algarve training base for a medical before signing an initial two-year contract as a free agent.
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Forest is also considering Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Bergvall as another target, while negotiations continue for new contracts with Neco Williams and Sangare.
Top European clubs including Chelsea, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain have been tracking Diomande for several seasons.
Signing him would emphasize Forest’s ambition under Glasner.