It's settled! Sporting to strengthen in January after losing key starter | OneFootball

Ousmane Diomande is expected to take part in the AFCON (African Cup of Nations), which will be held between December 21 and January 18, which forces Sporting to target the winter transfer window in search of another central defender.

According to information reported by the newspaper A Bola, the imminent absence of the 'number 26' leads Rui Borges to look to the market for a present alternative, but also to think about the future, since none of the other center-backs in the squad are similar to Diomande.

The defender is quite powerful and strong in the air when compared to Gonçalo Inácio, Zeno Debast, and Eduardo Quaresma. Jeremiah St Juste has been demoted to the B team, but he also does not have similar characteristics to Diomande.

Although Rui Borges is keeping an eye on the B team and Bruno Ramos has impressed the coach, it is certain that the Lions will look for another center-back with the physicality to win duels against opponents and who can impose himself through physical and aerial play.

This season, wearing the Sporting shirt, Ousmane Diomande – valued at 45 million euros – has played in two matches. The Ivory Coast international center-back started in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, playing 68 minutes against Benfica, and also against Casa Pia, being on the pitch for 58', before getting injured.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.