Ousmane Diomande – The Empire of The Kop

Journalist explains why ‘intriguing’ Liverpool transfer target could be a ‘gamble’ for the Reds

Liam Togher — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 21:20:39 +0000

Neil Jones has said that Liverpool would be taking a ‘gamble’ if they were to sign one of their most prominent reported January transfer targets.

The Reds have been strongly linked with a possible move for Ousmane Diomande this month and are understood to be ‘keeping tabs’ on the Sporting CP defender (David Lynch).

The 20-year-old is rated so highly in Portugal that one observer is quoted as saying that the Lisbon club could ‘make at least £100m’ from selling him.

However, speaking to EOTK Insider, Jones outline why he feels Liverpool would be rolling the dice if they were to sign the precocious centre-back.

The journalist stated: “Ousmane Diomande has very minimal experience with 28 games in the league for Sporting – it’s a very small sample size for a centre-back! Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip – even someone like Ozan Kabak – all had a lot more when they signed.

“It would be a gamble for Liverpool to go and spend money on him. That said, he does look, from the reports you read and the trajectory of his career, a potentially intriguing option. Ultimately, though, it does come down to whether it’s the right deal for Liverpool, whether he’s the right fit and the age profile.”

Jones’ reservations about a big-money move for Diomande are understandable, with the journalist justifiably pointing to the 20-year-old’s inexperience at a high level and potentially wary of the fee that Sporting might demand in order to sell him.

However, we’ve seen in recent years that Liverpool are prepared to spend big on players if the Anfield powerbrokers are fully convinced that such deals would have a transformative long-term effect on Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

The age of the Ivory Coast international could entitle his current club to hold out for a substantial transfer offer, but that must be weighed up against the vast potential that he boasts and the possibility of him repaying that outlay over a prolonged period.

Virgil van Dijk (£75m) and Alisson Becker (£67m) certainly didn’t come cheap, but any debate about whether they’ve lived up to their respective price tags has long since been dispelled.

Ultimately, it’ll come down to whether Liverpool chiefs feel that Diomande would be a game-changer in Klopp’s side. If the answer is yes, don’t be surprised if they push the boat out to get him sometime this year.

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£51.5m defender is waiting for Liverpool bid after rejecting Newcastle advances – report

Farrell Keeling — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 08:07:16 +0000

Goncalo Inacio is reportedly understood to have rejected Newcastle’s advances a year ago whilst aware of the interest in him from Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Frederico Bartolo wrote for O Jogo at the start of the week that the Magpies have now instead taken the opportunity to try their luck again with a different Sporting Lisbon defender in Ousmane Diomande.

“This move by Newcastle has similarities with the attempt, a year ago, to take Inácio,” as was reported on Monday.

“The defender’s release clause of €45 million – however increased to €60 million – was inviting, but the deal was not done because the player was crucial for Amorim and the Portuguese central defender wanted a project to fight for titles, knowing the growing interest from Liverpool, Manchester United and, later, Real Madrid.

“Leonine SAD does not want to sell any plant at this stage.”

It’s worth noting that the Ivorian is also on the Reds’ transfer shortlist, though it appears likely that Jurgen Klopp’s men will hold out on making any permanent deals until the summer.

Caution over FFP will inspire patience

The lack of transfer activity from much of the ‘Big Six’ this January is, perhaps, hardly surprising in light of the recent discovery of teeth when it comes to the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR).

Everton could face yet another points deduction for their trouble, whilst Manchester City, for misdemeanours committed between 2009-2018, await for the release of the exact date of their hearing over 115 charges of alleged breaches.

In that case, we’d expect major transfers to be held off until the summer window – by which point we should have at least a slightly clearer picture as to the landscape.

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Liverpool ‘keeping tabs’ on Sporting player with summer move in mind; not Goncalo Inacio – report

Farrell Keeling — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 16:05:50 +0000

Liverpool are now understood to be ‘keeping tabs’ on Sporting’s Ousmane Diomande with a view to expanding the defensive department this summer.

This comes courtesy of David Lynch with This Is Anfield, as reported in a tweet below.

Sporting's Ousmane Diomande among the players Liverpool are keeping tabs on as they weigh up defensive reinforcements this summer.https://t.co/LkchL6ZCco https://t.co/LkchL6ZCco

— David Lynch (@dmlynchlfc) January 17, 2024

The Merseysiders are currently without long-time servant Joel Matip following an ACL injury (for which the Cameroonian has since successfully undergone surgery) though are expecting both Kostas Tsimikas and Andy Robertson back in the near future.

Gambling on returns

It’s fair to say that if we are indeed setting our sights on the summer, Liverpool are at least dabbling in a dance with the odds when it comes to their title hopes this term.

The impending return of our senior left-backs to the AXA training centre, whilst sure to alleviate some of the stress on the heart of the backline, does leave us temporarily vulnerable before the January window slams shut.

There’s every chance, of course, that we manage to hold on throughout the remainder of the campaign, though we’d hope the option to land a talent like Diomande – should it arise in the current moment – would be latched on to.

Especially at a time when Liverpool could look to secure major silverware so early in the rebuild.

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‘Mark my words…’ – Reported Liverpool target earmarked for £100m+ transfer; he’s ‘a cut above’

Liam Togher — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:09:19 +0000

One Liverpool-linked defender has been touted to potentially leave his current club for a nine-figure transfer fee.

In a piece for the Liverpool Echo, Paul Gorst reported of some glowing reviews made by sources from Portugal regarding Ousmane Diomande, who’s recently emerged as a player of interest to the Reds (Daily Mail).

One observer said of the Sporting Lisbon centre-half: “He’s a cut above the rest of the centre-backs we have playing here, [even] better than Antonio Silva at Benfica. He reads play really well, wins his tackles and moves in with perfect timing. He is definitely at Champions League level already.”

Another declared: “I think he’s going to be Sporting’s next expensive sale. Sporting is going to make at least £100m with him. Mark my words.”

What is it about Diomande which has led some Portuguese sources to tout him for a £100m+ transfer in the foreseeable future?

The 20-year-old has already made a name for himself as a beast in the air, winning 71.8% of his aerial duels in the Primeira Liga so far this season (FBref). That’s an even better rate than Ibrahima Konate with 69%, and the Frenchman is known for being an aerial colossus.

The Sporting centre-back combines that no-nonsense defending with being one of the best in his position with his use of the ball, ranking among the top 7% of positional peers in Europe for pass completion (90.7%), progressive passes (5.77), progressive carries (1.4) and successful take-ons (0.58) per 90 minutes (FBref).

Diomande is currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations with host country Ivory Coast, helping his side to victory and a clean sheet in their tournament opener against Guinea-Bissau with an assured performance which saw him complete 92% of his passes (Sofascore).

He already appears to be an outstanding defender at the age of 20, and one can only wonder just how high a ceiling he might have over the coming decade when considering the levels he’s reaching now.

It doesn’t take a genius to see why Liverpool are reportedly interested in the Ivorian, and it seems certain that he’ll eventually leave Sporting for a massive transfer fee. The fact that £100m+ has even been mentioned is quite the indicator of his potential.

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Why a Liverpool transfer for Ousmane Diomande would hold shades of Konate move – opinion

Farrell Keeling — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 14:31:02 +0000

Liverpool’s reported interest in Sporting CP’s Goncalo Inacio has been well-documented in recent months.

Of course, it’s difficult to say with any degree of certainty which long-term signing the Reds will make to bolster the left side of their backline.

Given the Portuguese international’s limited aerial prowess, however, we have some serious concerns over his ability to fill Virgil van Dijk’s boots in the long run.

Who could replace Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool? – (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Which is why recent links to the 22-year-old’s younger centre-back partner, Ousmane Diomande (20), are particularly intriguing.

An actual aerial threat

Lewis Steele reported on Monday for the Daily Mail that the Ivorian is ‘also liked after some stellar performances for Ruben Amorim’s side’.

This week’s Liverpool Confidential with news and views from #LFC…

How Rosenior’s pitch (+ Morton success) sold LFC on Carvalho to Hull
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LFC add Diomande of Sporting to longlist of CB targets
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— Lewis Steele (@LewisSteele_) January 8, 2024

We can see why given, firstly, a younger profile would surely be more attractive when putting forward an argument for a potential signing to wait patiently in our No.4’s lofty shadow.

A key point of intrigue as far as the Dutch international is concerned, however, is Diomande’s comparatively superior aerial numbers to his Sporting teammate.

FBref have the 6’3″ centre-half down as being aerially inferior to Inacio (6’1″) on an initial look – the former ranking in the 21st percentile for aerials won compared to the latter’s 29th percentile – but a deeper dive into the numbers suggests otherwise.

Ousmane Diomande? Now we're talking. A centre-back with an aerial duel success rate of 72% pic.twitter.com/t6cGCL4piN

— Sam McGuire (@SamMcGuire90) January 8, 2024

Sam McGuire is, indeed, on the money. FBref have Diomande down as having won 71.8% of his aerial duels in 2023/24 – more than double Goncalo Inacio’s 37% this term and higher than his best season (61.6% in 2020/21).

It’s a serious improvement on his own numbers last term (43.3%) too, not to mention being generally quite impressive for a defender who was still a teenager at the start of the current campaign.

Shades of Ibrahima Konate transfer

It wouldn’t be the first time Liverpool have apparently given the impression of focusing on one particular player at a club before happily snapping up a different name in the same position.

The footballing world raised a collective brow at our recruitment team’s decision to pursue Ibrahima Konate over Dayot Upamecano, despite most reports at the time heavily suggesting the latter was our top target.

One Frenchman went to Merseyside and the other was quickly snapped up by Bayern Munich.

Konate and Upamecano with the French national team – (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

In that vein of thought, it’s entirely possible those closely following our line of sight in Portugal have misidentified our potentially ideal centre-back target.

Of course, it’s worth pointing out that it won’t be any easier to land Ousmane Diomande either this January or in the summer with a release clause running up at just under £70m – roughly £18m more than Inacio’s.

That said, if the long-term goal is to find someone capable of filling Virgil van Dijk’s boots, you could argue that £70m is a cheap price to pay.

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Not just Inacio: Liverpool like another Portugal-based ‘old school’ defender, £70m release clause

Liam Togher — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 14:06:04 +0000

Goncalo Inacio’s name is again doing the rounds in the Liverpool rumour mill during the January transfer window, but he’s not the only Sporting Lisbon defender believed to be of interest at Anfield.

According to the Daily Mail, his teammate and positional colleague Ousmane Diomande is also ‘liked’ by the Reds following his ‘stellar’ form for Ruben Amorim’s side.

The 20-year-old – who’s currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations with host country Ivory Coast – has a release clause in the region of £70m.

The Daily Mail‘s report describes Diomande as being ‘adept in possession’ while also boasting ‘old-school defensive traits’, and the statistics regarding his use of the ball paint a very appetising picture.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 7% of centre-backs in Europe for pass completion (90.7%), progressive passes (5.77), progressive carries (1.4) and successful take-ons (0.58) per 90 minutes.

In terms of his tackling, he averages 1.5 per match, which’d place him sixth in Liverpool’s squad for that metric (WhoScored).

While the Daily Mail stressed that a player like Diomande wouldn’t realistically be signed in January, he’s among the ‘preliminary targets’ to have been ‘discussed’ in terms of a long-term centre-back option at Anfield.

The emergence of Jarell Quansah has strengthened Jurgen Klopp’s hand in that part of the squad, although the distinct possibility of Joel Matip departing at the end of his contract in the summer leaves an opening for a like-for-like replacement.

Sporting’s Ivorian defender could well have lots of Reds supporters – and indeed the club’s hierarchy – watching him with plenty of intent once AFCON gets underway next Saturday.

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