Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, 20-year-old defender Ousmane Diomande joined Sporting from FC Midtjylland in the winter of 2023 and has quickly blossomed as a talent, making nearly 50 appearances and earning a spot in his country’s full national team.
His outstanding performances in Portugal have not gone unnoticed by some of Europe’s top clubs. With Joel Matip set to leave, Liverpool are looking at young center backs to replace him, and the Sporting defender is reportedly one of the candidates.
According to O Jogo, the battle for the player has become even more intense, with Bayern Munich and Arsenal also in the race. Like the Reds, Juventus, Newcastle, and Chelsea have also expressed interest.
Portuguese defender Goncalo Inácio, his current club’s final line partner, is also of interest from Liverpool, and more to the point, the club’s manager, Ruben Amorim, is rumored to be in charge at Anfield.
With his excellent ball control, passing accuracy, and physical attributes required of a modern center back, he is capable of playing in the Premier League and could be the center of attention in this summer’s transfer market.
Which center back will Liverpool acquire to replace the 32-year-old former Cameroon defender?