13 January 2024 , 20:30
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Newcastle will step up their scouting of Ousmane Diomande this month in a bid to head off expected stiff competition for the Ivory Coast defender.
Diomande, 20, has shot to prominence starring this season for Sporting Lisbon, who top the Portuguese Primeira Liga. He has made 21 appearances this term in Portugal playing recently at the centre of a back three for Sporting but can also play on the right.
He is expected to be in high demand soon due to his ability to pass out from the back and also has two goals this term. Diomande is under contract until June 2027 after only joining Sporting a year ago from FC Midtjylland for £6.5million.
He will be in action this month for his country who are hosting the Africa Cup of Nations and kicked off the tournament on Saturday against Guinea-Bissau.
Newcastle may have to break their transfer record to land the starlet after previously buying Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad for a record £58million rising to £63m, including add-ons, in August 2022.
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Defender Diomande is valued at £70m but Newcastle are likely to open the bidding below that. The Saudi-owned club's finances are under the microscope amid the Premier League Financial Fair Play climate.
Top-flight sides must tread warily after Everton's recent 10-point deduction. Toon Sporting director Dan Ashworth has even said he is open to wheeling and dealing to reinvest in new talent.
Eddie Howe is keen to strengthen his Newcastle side (MI News/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)
Newcastle will step up their scouting of Ousmane Diomande (Getty Images)It could be necessary if suitors move for Bruno Guimaraes who is considered Newcastle's most valuable player with a £100m release clause.
Ashworth said previously: "At some stage, you have to trade. One of the things around Financial Fair Play is you have to trade, we have to be able to generate some money to reinvest and go again."