Man Utd preparing move to sign Diomande who is now available for £35m | OneFootball

Manchester United are considering a cut-price move for Sporting Lisbon star Ousmane Diomande this summer.

The Red Devils are weighing up options to replace Raphael Varane who will be leaving as a free-agent when his contract expires on June 30.

The club will likely prioritise an emerging player over a marquee signing and Express Sport claim that Diomande is on their radar.

Diomande’s contract includes a release clause worth £68 million. Sporting recently lowered the price to £51m as they must balance their books before June 30.

The Primeira Liga champions could reportedly accept offers in the region of £35m, and United are considering a transfer proposal for him.

The club met his representatives earlier last season. Once manager Erik ten Hag’s future becomes clear in the coming days, further talks are scheduled.

Diomande would be a fantastic acquisition for United

The 20-year-old joined Sporting from FC Midtjylland in January last year. He has since developed into one of the best young central defenders in Europe’s top-seven leagues.

Diomande has caught the eye with his strong distribution skills and defensive attributes. In the recent campaign, he had a passing accuracy of 92 percent in the Primeira Liga.

He won 72 percent of his aerial challenges with 5.1 ball recoveries per game. The youngster was dispossessed on only six occasions on average for Sporting.

Diomande would be a fantastic signing to replace Varane. He is still in the early phase of his career and could develop into a world-class centre-back.

He would be a bargain for United at £35m. However, the lower fee could also attract interest from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Arsenal, who have been following him closely.

The Red Devils need to sort out a deal as soon as possible. They need to resolve Ten Hag’s future immediately in order to concentrate on a transfer for Diomande.

Stats from Sofascore.com.