Forest closing in on the signing of Ousmane Diomande | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest are close to reinforcing their defence as they near a deal for Ousmane Diomande.

The Ivory Coast international defender is likely to leave Sporting CP for the Premier League this summer with journalist Fabrizio Romano reporting that a package of around €40 million (around £34 million) is close to being agreed.

Diomande is a highly-rated central defender who initially joined Sporting from Midtjylland midway through the 2022/23 season after a brief loan spell with CD Mafra in the Portuguese second flight.

After three and a half seasons with Sporting, Diomande won two Primeira Liga titles and a Taça de Portugal for the club in 132 appearances.

Still just 22 years old, Diomande has already made 16 appearances for Ivory Coast, and was a part of the squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023.