Nottingham Forest agree Ousmane Diomande deal as Sporting confirm defender stays for opener

Nottingham Forest have reached an agreement with Sporting CP to sign Ousmane Diomande, although the Ivory Coast international will not travel to England until after the Portuguese club's opening fixture.

Negotiations between the two clubs have accelerated in recent days, with the deal now entering its final stages ahead of the defender's expected move to the City Ground.

According to Record, Nottingham Forest have agreed to pay €40 million for Diomande in a deal that does not include performance-related bonuses.

However, A Bola reports the final agreement is worth €40 million plus €5 million in add-ons, with the clubs resolving the final payment structure during talks on Saturday.

While the exact fee structure differs between reports, both outlets agree that the transfer is effectively complete, with only the remaining formalities delaying the announcement.

Despite the agreement, Diomande has remained with Sporting and has been included in Rui Borges' squad for Saturday's match against Estrela da Amadora.

The 22-year-old is therefore not expected to travel to England this weekend, with his medical now likely to take place early next week after fulfilling his commitments in Portugal.

Forest have been pursuing the centre-back for several weeks and have finally broken the deadlock following lengthy negotiations with Sporting.

Diomande has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs over the past year after establishing himself as one of Sporting's standout defenders.

Nottingham Forest ultimately won the race by reaching an agreement with the Portuguese champions, securing another major addition as they continue strengthening Glasner's squad ahead of the new season.

Diomande is expected to feature in Sporting's opening fixture before travelling to England to complete his medical and finalise the move to Nottingham Forest. Once the formalities are completed, Forest are expected to announce one of their biggest signings of the summer.