Nottingham Forest offers €38m+€4m for Diomande; Sporting holds out for €40m+€5m

Hupu Football News — July 29

Record, one of Portugal's three major newspapers, has provided an update on Sporting CP's transfer activity.

With just over a month remaining until the transfer window closes, Sporting CP's squad is undergoing final adjustments. Diomande and Potter are set to leave, while Irankunda is expected to arrive, having already trained in England as he awaits the conclusion of negotiations between the clubs.

Additionally, a left-back has been brought in to replace Ricardo Mangas, who joined Monza on loan with a mandatory purchase option.

Diomande to Nottingham Forest

Diomande's transfer to Nottingham Forest is expected to be the next official move, with negotiations progressing smoothly due to converging valuations. Sporting CP's board has flatly refused to let the 22-year-old centre-back leave for less than €40 million, and is seeking an additional €5 million in bonuses.

Nottingham Forest's offer stands at €38 million, plus €4 million in performance-related bonuses. The gap between the two sides' valuations is expected to be bridged by the end of this week, and the player should integrate into Oliver Glasner's team in the coming days. Last season, Glasner attempted to bring the player to Crystal Palace.

Sporting CP is aware that negotiations with Nottingham Forest's owner, Greek billionaire Evangelos Marinakis, are never straightforward, but all signs point to a deal eventually being reached. To fill the void left by Diomande's departure, Sporting CP has already signed Ibrahima Ba from Famalicão.

Potter Heading to Saudi Arabia

Potter's situation is similar, and he even bid farewell to fans after last Saturday's "Five Violin Cup" match. The Portuguese international's next destination is Saudi Arabia, where he will in principle join Al-Ittihad. The club appears to have won the race, beating out Al-Diriyah, coached by Portuguese manager Bruno Lage.

In this deal, Sporting CP aims to secure a transfer fee of €30 million, while the player himself will receive an annual salary exceeding €10 million. Only the relevant documents remain to be finalised before the number 8 shirt ends his six-year journey at the Alvalade Stadium.

Two More New Signings on the Way

To compensate for the departures and provide Rui Borges with more firepower for a title challenge, the club also plans to bring in two new players on the left flank: a full-back and a winger.

Left-Back Priority

Following Ricardo Mangas' move to Italy, signing a player who can serve as a backup or competitor for Maxi Araújo has become a priority. The club is looking for a "copy of the Uruguayan" and is keeping an eye on the future. Although Araújo is about to renew his contract, Alvalade is convinced it will be nearly impossible to keep him beyond 2027. As with Trincão before, Sporting CP's management is willing to reward the player's excellent performances and promises to facilitate his transfer to a more competitive league in the near future.

Winger Progress

Progress on the winger front is smoother. The club has identified target Irankunda and submitted a formal offer of €15 million fixed plus €5 million in add-ons, which Watford is currently considering. Sporting CP has no intention of raising the bid and is adopting a patient approach with the English club. Although Watford has no other offers, it still hopes to secure better bonus terms.

Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Australian international has expressed his desire to leave. Given the strong performances of young players Flávio Gonçalves and Jesse Deri, the club is willing to wait a few more days, as they have other options for the position.

Source: Record

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