Chelsea Eye Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande as Top Defensive Target

Chelsea have set their sights on Sporting CP‘s talented centre-back, Ousmane Diomande, as the club’s primary defensive target for the upcoming summer transfer window, reliable sources have confirmed. The Blues are in need of strengthening their defensive line, with potential departures looming for Trevoh Chalobah and the end of Thiago Silva‘s contract. While a contract extension for the veteran Brazilian defender remains a possibility, Chelsea is actively scouting for a promising young defender to secure their long-term defensive strategy.

The club has been keeping a close eye on Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo and exploring the potential return of Crystal Palace‘s Marc Guehi to Cobham. Everton‘s Jarrad Branthwaite has also been discussed internally as a potential option. However, reliable sources have revealed that as of now, Ousmane Diomande has emerged as the leading contender for the role at Stamford Bridge.

At the tender age of 20, Diomande has already made significant strides in his career. After impressing during a loan spell in the Portuguese second tier, he joined Sporting CP in January 2023 and swiftly cemented his position in the starting lineup. Chelsea has already made contact with Sporting, but negotiations have revealed that Diomande’s release clause of €80m (£69m) must be triggered for any possible transfer to occur, although this stance may change in the summer. It is important to note that Diomande’s former club, FC Midtjylland, would be entitled to 20% of any profit made from his sale, thereby impacting any valuation outside the release clause amount.

Chelsea is not expected to activate the clause during the January transfer window and could instead focus on securing a summer transfer for the promising Ivory Coast international. Sources indicate that Diomande is open to a move to Stamford Bridge. With Ben Chilwell‘s return, the Blues have the option to use him as a left-back and shift Levi Colwill, their emerging talent, to his preferred position at center-back. Moreover, with Thiago Silva’s contract running until the summer, there is no immediate urgency to make a move in the market for another defender unless a suitable profile becomes available.

Apart from Silva, Chelsea has formed a solid core of young defenders, including 20-year-old Colwill and promising academy talent Alfie Gilchrist. With the likes of Benoit Badiashile (22), Wesley Fofana (23), and summer acquisition Axel Disasi (25), the addition of Diomande would complement the current crop of center-backs and alleviate the burden on Fofana, who is currently recovering from a significant injury.

Although Liverpool has shown interest in Colwill, Chelsea views him as an elite defender and has no intention of entertaining any offers for him at the moment. Colwill is under contract until 2029, with a potential extension until 2030. Chelsea considers him a valuable member of their player-led leadership group.