Exclusive: Bournemouth Ready to Spend Big on Sporting Centre-Back Ousmane Diomande

Bournemouth are considering a move for Ivory Coast international centre-back Ousmane Diomande, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The highly-rated 21-year-old defender is under contract with Portuguese outfit Sporting CP until June 2027.

But our sources have learnt that the Cherries are hoping to tempt Diomande away with a move to the Premier League.

Crystal Palace were heavily linked with the eight-cap international at the end of the summer transfer window.

However, after England defender Marc Guehi’s failed move to Premier League champions Liverpool on deadline day, the Eagles didn’t progress any further with what was rumoured to be a club record fee for the player.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim worked with the towering 6ft 3" defender at Sporting CP before leaving to take charge at Old Trafford. 

He signed for the Portuguese champions for £6.5million, but the club quickly slapped a £70m release-clause on his head.

Last season Diomande was a key player as Sporting CP retained their Primeira League, a consistent performer at the heart of the club’s defence as they lost just two games in the league all season.

DOUBLE LEAGUE WINNER

He won the league title in his first season under Amorim and has gone from strength-to-strength at the Jose Alvalade stadium.

Amorim has understandably been linked with a potential move for the defender, but the Cherries are desperate for defensive cover and ready to spend big money to bring Diomande to the English top-flight.

This summer Androni Iraola’s side lost three influential defenders with centre-backs Illia Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen left the club, as well as key left-back Milos Kerkez.

The trio played a significant role last season in helping the Cherries finish ninth last season, their best-ever Premier League finish.

Zabarnyi, 23, joined Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain in a high-profile £57m deal, while 20-year-old Huijsen signed for Spanish giants Real Madrid in a deal worth £50m.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old full-back Kerkez joined Liverpool for £40m with the Cherries having lost three of their regular starting back four ahead of the start this season.

However, the near £150m the club have earned from those three transfers means they have some muscle to spend big when the January transfer window opens.