Leeds United want to wrap up Ousmane Diomande deal quickly as ‘substantial’ fee set

Leeds United want to sign Sporting star Ousmane Diomande.

The Ivory Coast defender has been a regular in Portugal since making the move from FC Midtjylland in 2023.

He has regularly been on the radar of Premier League clubs, and it seems as though the Whites have joined the race.

The Liga Portugal club will likely demand a substantial amount to allow the 22-year-old to depart.

What has been said about Leeds' interest in Ousmane Diomande

225foot has reported that the Lions want around £43million for the defender, so the deal is complex from a financial perspective.

The Ivorian source on 8 June claims that the Elland Road side want to finalise a deal quickly for the centre-back.

It is understood that a deal could still happen due to the player's willingness to move, despite the demands.

Diomande is said to prefer a move to England if he seals an exit this summer.

Why Leeds won't be signing Diomande quickly

Leeds will have to wait for any deal for Diomande, even with their seemingly pressing interest in his services.

He is set to feature for his country at the World Cup, which starts in three days and finishes on 19 July.

Ivory Coast are not expected to get that far, but he will likely want a break after a long season and no summer off.

Therefore, the LS11 side may not be able to secure his signature until August, if the reports about the defender are accurate.

Daniel Farke may well want a new option at centre-back to compete with the likes of Pascal Struijk, Jaka Bijol, Joe Rodon and Sebastiaan Bornauw.

The futures of the Dutchman and the German are in question, so if they leave then the Peacocks will definitely need another player at the back, and Diomande fits the bill.

It remains to be seen whether they can sign him, but it is exciting to see them being linked with players of his calibre, and shows how far they have come in recent years.

It may well prove to be agent talk, given that the information is coming out of his home country, rather than sources around his club.