Real Madrid interested in 21-year-old defensive talent who could cost €60 million | OneFootball

If the last season taught Real Madrid any lesson, it was that the team seriously requires depth at centre-back – a position that has tormented them for a few years now.

Florentino Perez promptly addressed that lacuna earlier this summer through the signature of Dean Huijsen, one of Spain’s youngest and most promising young defenders. There is, however, a feeling that another signing may serve the team well.

In a recent report, Mundo Deportivo bring to light a new name being widely linked with Real Madrid by the English media – Ousmane Diomande.

A player who fascinates Alonso

As relayed by the Spanish outlet, Real Madrid are very interested in the young Sporting CP defender and Xabi Alonso personally sees the youngster as having a very high ceiling.

Aged just 21, the Ivory Coast international racked up 31 appearances for Sporting last season in Liga Portugal, overseeing nine clean sheets and scoring two goals in the process. Further, he averaged over nine defensive actions and four ball recoveries per game.

Diomande on Real Madrid’s radar. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)

Diomande’s performances have attracted serious interest from England with Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Chelsea all on the lookout for his signing.

Real Madrid, thus, must beat serious competition if they are to advance as the party that swoops Diomande.

His contract in Portugal runs until the summer of 2027 and his release clause currently stands at a pricey €80 million.

Some outlets, however, claim that a sum of €60 million will be enough to convince Sporting which is still a sum beyond what Real Madrid will readily pay.

Should Diomande arrive, he will slot in as a long-term defensive solution for Xabi Alonso. A big part of his signing, thus, will depend on the trust the manager has in his current veteran defenders and on Eder Militao who has been suffering with injuries.