Liverpool have a busy summer ahead of them as a new era beckons at Anfield amid Jurgen Klopp’s impending Anfield exit and Arne Slot taking the reins.
The Reds are also set for changes at boardroom level, with Richard Hughes taking over as sporting director at Anfield.
Slot, Hughes and FSG’s Michael Edwards will try to do all they can to not only maintain continuity from the Klopp era, but to build on it.
Liverpool are likely to look at bolstering their defensive ranks in summer, with Joel Matip set to leave Anfield when his contract expires.
And one defender the Reds have been linked with in recent months could potentially be available for less than previously reported.
The player in question is Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande, who could well become the Portuguese club’s next big sale.
In April, FootballTransfers reported that Liverpool are monitoring the 21-year-old’s situation, but they’re not the only ones.
As well as the Reds, Newcastle United are also keeping tabs on Diomande, while Chelsea are said to be admirers of the player too.
Now, A Bola have reported that, while the player’s clause is €80million (£69million), ‘negotiation for €50-60million (£43-52million) is permitted’ by Sporting.
This means Liverpool could potentially sign one of Europe’s most highly-rated young defenders for a relatively modest fee.
Ousmane Diomande would be a good shout for Liverpool
Liverpool could certainly do with revamping their back line, and Diomande looks like he’d be a good shout for them thanks to his talent, work-rate, physicality and high ceiling.
Scouted’s Scouted50 features the reported Reds target at number five.
They wrote: “He ticks the boxes of the extreme demands elite teams now place on their centre-backs.
“He’s big and fast, a dominant defender in duels and solid in the air, calm and confident in possession, as well as remarkably two-footed on the ball.
“The Ivorian will be Sporting’s next big sale to the elite of the elite.”
Meanwhile, Football Talent Scout‘s Jacek Kulig called Diomande “one of the most exciting young talents in Europe” last year.
Let’s see what happens in the coming months. Liverpool will certainly fancy their chances of signing Diomande, but competition is likely to be fierce.