Leeds United are reportedly considering a club-record bid for Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande, according to reports in Africa. The Whites, fresh off a 14th-place finish in their return to the Premier League, are aiming to add quality over quantity this summer, having already secured a new contract for key player Ethan Ampadu.
Manager Daniel Farke is targeting several key additions, including a goalkeeper, a striker, a left-sided wing-back, a creative attacker, and a centre-half. While the club aren’t under pressure to sell existing stars, they are open to allowing squad players to depart to generate revenue and improve the overall quality of the squad. Diomande has emerged as a potential target to fill the centre-back role, with some reports suggesting Pascal Struijk could be allowed to leave with only a year remaining on his current contract.
The reports claim Sporting are seeking €50 million (£43.2m, $57.5m) for the 22-year-old Ivorian international, which would surpass Leeds’ current transfer record. Leeds are allegedly prepared to offer €40 million upfront, plus a further €5-10 million in potential bonuses. Diomande, who stands at 6ft 3in, has been previously linked with several other Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle United, and Bournemouth.
However, TEAMtalk reports cautioning against the claims, noting a lack of corroborating information in Portuguese media. While Leeds are actively seeking a left-sided defender, a bid of this magnitude would be a significant departure from their recent transfer strategy. Nevertheless, Diomande’s quality, physicality, and profile align with the type of player chairman Paraag Marathe has indicated they will target. The defender has made 132 appearances for Sporting, scoring seven goals, and has 15 caps for the Ivory Coast national team. Leeds are also reportedly considering other defensive options, including Ladislav Krejci and Danilho Doekhi.
