File photo dated 22/02/2009 of A General view of St James Park, home of Newcastle United in Newcastle.
As the chase to recruit Newcastle United target Ousmane Diomande continues, the Portuguese press has published a new tale about Sporting’s response.
According to the newspaper O Jogo, the English interest in the youngster has persuaded Lions president Frederico Varandas to try to protect him.
For the time being, Diomande is under contract with Sporting until 2027 and is protected by a €80 million release clause, meaning Newcastle and others would have to pay that if they wanted to sign him in January.
The Lions are in a rush to raise the player’s price tag, considering it almost certain that the defender will leave the club by next summer at the latest. They aim to maximize their income from the potential transfer. It’s worth noting that Manchester City has reportedly shown interest in the player, as per reports from English media this week.
Sporting currently leads the league table, prompting them to retain the player in their squad for the time being. Interested clubs may benefit from exercising a bit of patience until the end of the season, giving them the opportunity to negotiate a more reasonable fee for the defender rather than facing a hefty price tag midway through the campaign.
