Nottingham Forest target Diomande after £116m player sale
Nottingham Forest have enquired about Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande, signalling how the Premier League club plans to reinvest a massive summer windfall to secure top-flight survival.
Nottingham Forest have made an enquiry to Sporting CP for centre-back Ousmane Diomande, marking the Midlands club's first major step in the summer transfer market.
The approach follows a period of significant financial restructuring at the City Ground. Forest narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League last season, a result that protected the club's access to lucrative top-tier broadcast revenue. To balance the books, the club has already sold midfielder Elliot Anderson for £116m and offloaded defender David Carmo to Olympiacos for an undisclosed fee.
Despite these outgoings, Forest had yet to make any new signings prior to the Diomande enquiry. The pursuit of the 22-year-old Ivory Coast international indicates that new manager Oliver Glasner is looking to convert recent sales into immediate on-pitch assets.
Diomande carries a £68.2m release clause in his contract. However, multiple sources indicate that Sporting CP could be willing to accept a lower fee this summer. The defender represents a scarce commodity in the European transfer market: a young centre-back with extensive senior experience. He has made over 150 first-team appearances, earned 15 caps for his national side, and featured at this summer's World Cup.
That track record has previously attracted attention from Chelsea and a host of other European clubs. For Forest, securing a player of his profile would represent a strategic pivot following the departures of key squad members.
Glasner's influence is central to this potential deal. The new Forest manager was reportedly keen on acquiring Diomande during his previous tenure in charge of Crystal Palace. Now at the helm in the Midlands, Glasner is directly driving the club's interest.
For Sporting CP, the enquiry presents an opportunity to monetize a highly valued asset. While Forest has stopped short of submitting an official bid, the situation sets the stage for negotiations that will test whether the Portuguese side can extract a premium price for a defender who has already proven his market appeal across Europe's top leagues.
