Sporting in trouble! Rui Borges target gets pricier | OneFootball

Issa Doumbia remains one of Sporting’s main targets to strengthen the midfield for 2026/27, but the deal is expected to become more complicated in the coming weeks. The Venezia midfielder has increased in value in recent days, and the fee demanded by the Italians is already close to €20 million.

Initially, the process was being worked on figures close to €15 million, but the arrival of new interested parties in the market ended up driving up Venezia’s demands. Brentford and Everton have started closely monitoring the Italy Under-21 international after his high-level 2025/26 season.

Despite competition from the Premier League, Sporting remain determined to move for the player and are already said to be close to reaching an agreement with Doumbia himself. On the table is expected to be a contract running until 2031, along with a release clause set at €80 million.

The structure led by Frederico Varandas sees the Italian midfielder as an important piece in the renewal of the middle sector of the team coached by Rui Borges. Several changes in midfield are expected at Alvalade during the summer, with Doumbia emerging as one of the players chosen to lead the new cycle.

This season, Issa Doumbia recorded nine goals and five assists in 37 official matches, numbers that have reinforced the attention of several European clubs toward one of the most highly rated midfielders in the Italian league.

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