Crystal Palace`s interest in Sporting CP`s promising young defender, Ousmane Diomande, appears to be intensifying. Reports emerging from the English press suggest the Premier League club is poised to formalize their pursuit with a substantial offer.
Specifically, The Guardian claims Crystal Palace is preparing a bid in the region of €52 million. This figure represents a significant increase compared to the €40 million amount previously speculated, indicating a growing determination on the part of the London club to secure Diomande`s services.
However, securing the Ivorian defender will likely require more than a €52 million offer. Diomande is currently protected by a release clause in his Sporting contract set at €80 million. The Lisbon-based club has historically shown a firm stance regarding key players with high release clauses, often indicating they are unwilling to negotiate below that figure.
This sets up a classic transfer market negotiation scenario: a buying club testing the resolve of a selling club that appears financially protected by a high release clause. Whether Crystal Palace is prepared to bridge the substantial gap between their proposed bid and Sporting`s €80 million demand remains the key question as the transfer window progresses. The coming days should reveal if Palace`s increased valuation is deemed sufficient, or if Sporting will simply point to the clause and politely decline anything less.
