Crystal Palace nearing €55 million agreement with Sporting CP for Ousmane Diomande | OneFootball

Crystal Palace are close to striking a deal for Sporting CP central defender Ousmane Diomande, according to A Bola.

Diomande is set to cost around €55 million and would be Palace’s second signing of the summer after the arrival of Walter Benitez on a free transfer.

The move would break Palace’s previous transfer record of €31.2 million, which they paid for Christian Benteke in 2016.

The London club are aiming to move quickly to bring in defensive reinforcements amid growing expectations of Marc Guehi’s departure.

Guehi has been linked with a move to Liverpool as he enters the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park.

Sporting were initially holding out for Diomande’s release clause of €80m, but have lowered their demands.

Negotiations have now settled on a €55m package, with only minor details left to be finalised.

The 21‑year‑old defender has become one of Europe’s most sought-after young talents following his stellar performances in Portugal.

He helped Sporting win back-to-back league titles and was named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year on both occasions.

He also helped Ivory Coast win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Diomande, who currently earns €500,000 net per year at Sporting, is expected to sign a lucrative five-year contract with Palace.