Leeds United ‘to make’ record bid for Ousmane Diomande | OneFootball

Leeds United are exploring a record move for Sporting centre-back Ousmane Diomande, with reports indicating their biggest offer to date is being prepared.

225foot reports that Leeds want to break their transfer record to land the Ivory Coast international. TEAMtalk adds the proposal could reach £35m plus £8m in add-ons, surpassing the roughly £36m paid to Hoffenheim for Georginio Rutter three and a half years ago. A BOLA states that Leeds’ interest has been confirmed.

The 22-year-old has a £69m release clause and signed a four-and-a-half-year extension in January. Sporting signed him from Midtjylland for £11m three and a half years ago.

Leeds are among several Premier League clubs linked with the defender after earlier connections to Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Newcastle United. Post-promotion, they added Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw, with the latter featuring only 14 times last season.

Vice-captain Pascal Struijk has entered the final year of his deal and could agree a pre-contract overseas from January if no extension is reached, leaving for free next summer. After signing his own new contract last week, captain Ethan Ampadu praised Struijk’s influence and said he hopes the squad stays together, noting it would be disappointing to lose anyone.

Source: Leeds Live