Chelsea make Sporting CP defender priority signing for summer

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 28 Dec 2023 13:26 GMT
• 3 min read

Confirmed

Chelsea have made Ousmane Diomande a priority signing following their long-standing interest but it’s unlikely any deal will come to fruition until the summer, FootballTransfers has been told.

The Blues have been huge admirers of the Sporting CP defender for years but the Portuguese club are already bracing for the sale of Goncalo Inacio in the winter window and so have informed sides that they will have to meet the €80 million buyout clause in his contract, sources have informed us.

There are a number of clubs outside of Chelsea who are keen on the 20-year-old. We understand that while there have been a couple of preliminary meetings about a possible move for Diomande ahead of next year, nothing substantial has been agreed and the likelihood is that he will stay until the end of the campaign.

Diomande and Inacio make up part of Ruben Amorim’s back three and the club do not wish to see both leave, especially with the Leoes sitting in the top spot of Primeira Liga.

What clubs are interested in Inacio?

Inacio has interest from Liverpool and Newcastle and it’s thought that he will likely depart in the winter window - with a €60 release clause in his contract.

Mauricio Pochettino wants to strengthen both attack and defense and there is an idea that a move for Viktor Gyokeres could be made. The striker, who has a release clause of €100m, is considered a concrete target by the Chelsea recruitment staff as well as his teammate.

Sporting CP secured the singing of the Ivory Coast international for €7.5m rising to €12.5m last January. He has made a huge impact since his arrival, being widely considered as one of the best young centre-backs in Europe.