Amid interest from Newcastle United, Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande is now keen on moving to the Premier League.
That’s according to a report by The Sun who claimed that Newcastle have now scouted Diomande at least three times this season.
However, Diomande does have a release clause of £70m, something that is proving an issue for multiple suitors, including Newcastle.
Of course, Eddie Howe’s team are now being linked with centre-backs in wake of the injury crisis the club are now enduring.
As well as losing Sven Botman recently, Howe has now lost Dan Burn to a longer-term issue.
And with Paul Dummett the only senior backup for Fabian Schar and Jamal Lascelles right now, the club will surely act in January.
Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande could prove an excellent addition for Newcastle, but the price tag does make a move feel unrealistic.
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Arsenal have also been linked to Diomande in the past, a player Mikel Arteta admires.
There’s certainly no doubt as to the quality and the potential of the 19-year-old, just the feasibility of a deal.
Sporting’s Diomande wants to move to England amid interest from Newcastle
Amid this injury crisis, Eddie Howe’s side have also been linked with a move for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.
The defender is having a monumental start to the season under Sean Dyche, but surely would also demand an incredibly high fee.
It was well documented that Newcastle were on the limit of the their financial fair play restrictions in the summer – which is possibly why a move for Lewis Hall needed to be a loan-to-buy.
And therefore shelling out huge amounts of money in January simply may not be an option for Eddie Howe.
There’s no doubt that a player like Sporting’s Diomande would be a huge boost for Newcastle, but they simply may have to look elsewhere.
The fixture list certainly isn’t going to get any easier for Howe’s side after the international break.
And some Newcastle insiders do now believe that the injury crisis at the club needs further inspection.