Sporting CP demands additional €2M from Nottingham Forest for Diomande transfer

Hupu Football News — July 30th. Record, one of Portugal's three major newspapers, has provided an update on Sporting CP's transfer negotiations.

The ongoing tug-of-war between Sporting CP and Nottingham Forest over Ousmane Diomande's move to the English club has raised questions about whether the 22-year-old centre-back will be included in the "Lions" squad. The team is set to face Oliver Glasner's side tomorrow at the Algarve Stadium.

Current Stalemate

Sporting CP and Nottingham Forest remain deadlocked over a €2 million difference. The club management, led by Frederico Varandas, insists on a fixed transfer fee of €40 million plus €5 million in add-ons. Forest, however, appears unlikely to offer more than €38 million plus €4 million.

Uncertainty Over Match Selection

The defender is still unsure whether he will be called up for this match. If left out, he could become the only international-level player absent from the final warm-up game before the league opener (against Estrela da Amadora on 8 August).

Rui Borges has mentally prepared to lose the Ivorian player but still wants to give him a chance to say goodbye to the fans on the pitch—even though the match is away from the Alvalade Stadium. Diomande was present but did not receive playing time in the previous match against Monaco at Alvalade.

Glimmer of Hope

A glimmer of hope has emerged. All signs indicate that the next few hours will be crucial for finalising details and reaching an agreement.

Record had anticipated this transfer possibility as early as the current Nottingham Forest manager took over the historic club, given that the manager had already admired Diomande's abilities during his time at Crystal Palace.

Although some obstacles remain, the defender will only know by noon today who will head south—and whether he has a place on the team bus.

Rui Silva, Inácio, and Suárez Return

After Maxi Araújo and Rodrigo Salazar—who previously represented Uruguay in the World Cup—received playing time in this preseason, three more internationals will now be called up to continue their preparations at the Cristiano Ronaldo training base. These three players reported back last Sunday.

According to Record, aside from the goalkeeper, the centre-back and forward have been cleared to play. However, out of caution, they will likely only participate in the first half of the match against Nottingham.

Ibrahima Bá, Nuno Santos, and João Simões remain sidelined due to injuries.

Source: Record Posted in Shanghai Reads: 771