Nottingham Forest is on the brink of completing a €40 million acquisition of Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP, a move that would represent a significant investment in the club’s defensive options.
The 23‑year‑old centre‑back, who has amassed 132 appearances for Sporting CP since his arrival from Midtjylland in January 2023, also brings international experience with 16 caps for Ivory Coast, including participation at the recent World Cup.
Glasner’s Tactical Blueprint
New head coach Oliver Glasner, who arrived with a reputation for implementing a disciplined back three, intends to pair Diomande with existing centre‑backs Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic, aiming to add height and physical presence while also enhancing set‑piece stability.
The Portuguese club’s sporting director confirmed that the deal is in its final stages, with a medical scheduled before the player’s official unveiling, and noted that the transfer follows earlier attempts to secure the defender during a training camp in Portugal.
In addition to Diomande, Forest have already bolstered their midfield by signing Xaver Schlager from RB Leipzig and extending the contracts of Ibrahim Sangare and Murillo through to 2029 and 2030 respectively, while also retaining key figures such as Marc Guehi, Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix and Paul Taylor.
Looking Ahead
The club’s leadership believes that the new arrivals will provide the defensive solidity required to challenge for a European spot, and fans will be watching closely as the team integrates its new pieces under Glasner’s guidance.