Nottingham Forest look set to sign Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande in the coming weeks, with the Reds currently on a pre-season training camp in Portugal.
Oliver Glasner oversaw a 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday, with Igor Jesus, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Taiwo Awoniyi netting the goals.
Where would Nottingham Forest finish in the Premier League with a back three of Murillo, Diomande and Milenkovic?
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The new Forest head coach has moved quickly to start his summer rebuilding, with Diomande thought to have agreed personal terms with the Reds.
Diomande will arrive having played for the Ivory Coast at the World Cup and boasting Champions League experience, with Sporting CP reaching the quarter-final last season before losing to Arsenal.
With talks being thrashed out between the clubs over the defender, we set about finding out more about Diomande with a Portuguese coach running the rule over the incoming Forest player.
Paulo Duarte thinks Nottingham Forest are signing a gem
Duarte is the current head coach of the Guinea national team and his managerial career has seen him go far and wide to take up positions.
He’s managed Burkina Faso, Gabon and Togo, with spells at Le Mans, Al-Kholood and Sfaxien in club football.
The Portuguese coach began his playing career with the youth set-up at Boavista before moving to Uniao Leiria, Salgueiros and Maritimo, making 238 appearances in total at the top level of Portuguese football.
With that in mind, he’s still an avid follower of the Portuguese top-flight, and we spoke with Duarte about Diomande and what the Forest fan base can expect from the potential new recruit.
NFN: What are Diomande’s main strengths as a defender?
PD: “What impresses me most about Diomande is the rare combination of qualities he possesses for a centre-back of his age. He is a very intelligent player in the way he reads the game, extremely strong physically and, at the same time, very quick. Normally, a centre-back who is almost 1.90 metres tall takes longer to react, but Diomande is able to recover ground with ease and defend large spaces behind the defensive line.
“In addition, he possesses a quality that is essential in modern football: he is comfortable on the ball, knows how to play out from the back, carries the ball confidently, and finds solutions under pressure. He has all the attributes a coach looks for in a top-class centre-back.”
NFN: Oliver Glasner would likely utilise him as part of a three-man defence, does that suit Diomande?
PD: “Without a doubt. That’s precisely the system he developed in under Rúben Amorim at Sporting, where he became one of the team’s key players. Playing in a back three brings out the best in his qualities, but that doesn’t mean he depends on that system. He is equally capable of playing in a back four because he is strong in one-on-one situations, quick in defensive transitions, and very reliable positionally. He is a defender who can adapt to different tactical systems.”
NFN: At 22, there must be some things he needs to work on, what are they?
PD: “That’s precisely the most exciting part: he is already competing at a very high level, yet he is only 22 years old. Like any young centre-back, he will continue to improve his reading of certain phases of the game, his decision-making when playing out from the back, and some positional details that only experience can bring.
“His development has been clear ever since he arrived in Portugal. I also believe he can become even more dominant in the air, both defensively and offensively, because he has the physical attributes to do so. Most importantly, he still has plenty of room for improvement and, above all, a real willingness to learn, which is a trait commonly found among the best African players who go on to reach the very top.”
NFN: It feels as though Forest are getting him very cheap, why is that?
PD: “If we compare it with the fees currently being paid in the Premier League for a top-quality centre-back, it could prove to be a bargain. In the context of Portuguese football, it is still a very significant transfer, but I believe Nottingham Forest have the opportunity to generate great value, both on the pitch and financially.
Nottingham Forest are signing the best centre-back in the Portuguese league. We are talking about an Ivory Coast international who is still very young and has already proven his quality in the UEFA Champions League and at a demanding club like Sporting. If he fulfils his potential, I would not be surprised if, within a few years, he is being linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs for a considerably higher transfer fee.”
NFN: Is there another Premier League defender that he’s similar to?
PD: “Every player has their own identity, but if I had to draw comparisons, I would say that, because of his combination of physical strength, pace, and ability to defend large spaces, he reminds me of William Saliba. I also see similarities with Ibrahima Konaté in the way he uses his body in duels and in his power to recover defensively.
“On top of that, Diomande also brings a very interesting ability to carry the ball forward and break lines with his dribbling, which is becoming increasingly valuable in modern football. It is this all-round profile that makes him such a different and complete defender.”
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NFN: Finally, do you think Diomande can be a hit in the Premier League?
PD: “I have no doubts. I know African talent very well, as well as the mentality and determination these players possess. One of the qualities I value most is their ability to adapt when they combine humility, discipline, and a willingness to learn. Diomande has all of those qualities. He has the attributes to cope with the intensity of the Premier League, and I believe he can quickly establish himself as a key figure in Nottingham Forest’s defence.
“If he continues on his current path of development, he has the potential to establish himself as one of the best centre-backs of his generation.”
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