Newcastle eyeing move for Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande | OneFootball

Newcastle United have regularly scouted Sporting Lisbon centre-back Ousmane Diomande, according to the Telegraph.

Chelsea and Crystal Palace are also considering a move for the 21-year-old.

The Magpies are seeking defensive reinforcements, and Diomande is a target after a hugely successful season in Portugal.

Diomande helped keep nine clean sheets in 31 Primeira Liga appearances as the Lisbon giants won a second successive league title.

With Dan Burn and Fabian Schar entering the twilight of their careers, Newcastle must refresh their backline, and Diomande is an option.

Marc Guehi is also on their wishlist. Newcastle chased the England international throughout last summer, but it proved a futile attempt as Palace priced him out of a transfer.

It is worth noting that Diomande, who Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim hailed as a ‘very talented player’, reportedly has an €80 million release clause.

Sporting re not keen on doing suitors any favours in the summer transfer window.

An affordable Diomande alternative Newcastle should consider

A sensible, cost-effective alternative could be LOSC Lille defender Alexsandro Ribeiro.

The 25-year-old played a key role as Lille finished in the top five this term. He helped keep ten clean sheets in 30 league outings.

Alexsandro won 71% of his aerial duels and 58% of his ground battles, slightly outperforming the Sporting centre-back in both metrics.

He also netted once and demonstrated poise and assurance on the ball, attributes Newcastle manager Eddie Howe values in a ball-playing defender.

Alexsandro earned his first Brazil cap earlier this year. He impressed under Carlo Ancelotti against Ecuador and followed it with another excellent showing versus Paraguay.

Unlike Diomande, Alexsandro doesn’t carry a bloated price tag or the attention of a bidding war, even though Arsenal are sniffing around.

That makes him a more accessible target for a club operating under financial constraints.

If Newcastle are priced out of a move for Diomande, Alexsandro is a smart alternative the club should consider.