Nottingham Forest close in on Ousmane Diomande as Sporting demand €45m package

Nottingham Forest are closing in on the signing of Ousmane Diomande, with negotiations with Sporting CP entering the final stages.

The Portuguese champions are prepared to sanction the defender's departure, but only under terms that include a guaranteed fee of at least €40 million, performance-related bonuses and a percentage of any future profit from a subsequent sale.

With talks accelerating, Diomande now appears to be edging closer to a long-awaited move to the Premier League.

Sporting have refused to lower their valuation of the Ivory Coast international and are insisting on a package that reflects his importance to the club.

The Lisbon side want a fixed transfer fee of no less than €40 million, with additional bonuses linked to both the player's individual performances and Nottingham Forest's sporting achievements.

The clubs are also discussing the payment structure, although an agreement is believed to be close.

Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner has made Diomande one of his priority defensive targets this summer.

The Austrian has admired the 22-year-old for some time, having previously pushed to sign him while managing Crystal Palace.

Forest's renewed interest has intensified negotiations, with the Premier League club now confident of completing the transfer.

The defender is expected to miss Sporting's upcoming Troféu Cinco Violinos fixture against Monaco as his transfer edges closer.

Diomande has long been linked with a move to England and is now on the verge of fulfilling his ambition of playing in the Premier League.

His departure would end a successful spell in Lisbon, where he established himself as one of the league's outstanding young defenders.

Sporting signed Diomande from FC Midtjylland in 2023 in a deal worth an initial €7.5 million, with further performance-related payments eventually taking the total investment to €14.5 million.

The Portuguese champions also purchased an additional share of the player's future sell-on rights, reducing Midtjylland's entitlement to 10 per cent of any future profit.

As part of the Nottingham Forest negotiations, Sporting are also seeking 10 per cent of the profit from any future sale, meaning the overall package could rise to around €45 million.

Diomande leaves Sporting after making 132 appearances, scoring seven goals, providing three assists, and winning two Primeira Liga titles and the Taça de Portugal.

Nottingham Forest and Sporting are expected to finalise the remaining details of the transfer in the coming hours. Once an agreement is completed, Ousmane Diomande will travel to England to complete his medical and finalise his move to the City Ground.