Newcastle rival Chelsea to €85m-rated centre-back

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 15 Jan 2024 08:55 GMT
• 3 min read

Newcastle will step up their targeting of Ousmane Diomande this year in a bid to head off competition from Chelsea for the Sporting CP youngster, according to reports.

The 20-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in Portugal, with his side sitting at the top of the Primeira Liga. He has made 21 appearances this term in Portugal, playing recently at the centre of a back three, though the versatile defender can also be poised on the right-hand side.

Diomande, who is under contract until June 2027 after only joining Sporting CP a year ago from FC Midtjylland for €7m, will be playing this month for the Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations.

It’s been reported via the Mirror that Newcastle will have to break their transfer record to land the youngster, with their current record deal being the purchase of striker Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad for a record €68million rising to €73m, including add-ons, in the summer of 2022.

Any deal won’t likely happen until the next transfer window as the Magpies are content with the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play regulations.

Magpies' sporting director Dan Ashworth has even said he is open to selling some big names to secure talent with future potential.

Ashworth said: "At some stage, you have to trade. One of the things around Financial Fair Play is you have to trade, we have to be able to generate some money to reinvest and go again."

Do Chelsa like Ousmane Diomande?

As previously reported by FootballTransfers, Chelsea have made Diomande a priority signing following their long-standing interest but it’s unlikely any deal will happen until the summer

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 £75m buyout clause in his contract, sources have informed us.