Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Transfer rumours: Ousmane Diomande to Newcastle United, Malang Sarr to Saudi Arabia, Orel Mangala to Italy

sportsmole.co.uk, 14 January 2024, 22:27
Newcastle United are reportedly set to step up their efforts to sign Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande.

The 20-year-old is currently being linked with a move away from Lisbon after establishing himself as a key part of Ruben Amorim's side.

Diomande has been a mainstay in the Sporting lineup this season, starting the club's opening 15 league games before he recently headed off the Africa Cup of Nations.

Despite being under contract until June 2027, the former Midtjylland player is attracting interest from Newcastle, Arsenal and Chelsea.

According to The Mirror, Newcastle are preparing to increase their scouting efforts over the next month as they look to win the race to secure Diomande's signature.

The report indicates that the Magpies will keep a close eye on the Ivory Coast international at the tournament which is taking place in his home country.

Diomande earned his fourth cap in Saturday's 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in the opening match of the tournament, and he is expected to be involved in his country's next two group games against Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.

The centre-back, who is said to be valued at £70m, has also emerged as a potential target for Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian club Al Ettifaq are reportedly interested in signing Chelsea defender Malang Sarr before the end of the month.

Steven Gerrard, who was appointed Al Ettifaq manager in the summer, made a number of additions to his squad in the previous transfer window.

The former Liverpool midfielder recruited the likes of Demarai Gray, Georginio Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson, although the latter has recently been linked with a move away from the Saudi Pro League club.

Despite bolstering his side in the summer, Gerrard is on the lookout for further reinforcements, having seen his team go nine competitive matches without a win.

According to football.london, Gerrard is considering a move for Sarr, who has failed to make a single matchday squad for Chelsea this season.

With Sarr not regarded as a part of Mauricio Pochettino's plans, Chelsea are keen to move the defender on during the current transfer window.

The Frenchman spent last season on loan at Monaco, but he returned to Stamford Bridge after the Ligue 1 side decided against exercising their option to purchase the 24-year-old.

While Al Ettifaq have emerged as a potential destination, Sarr has been mooted as a potential target for reigning Serie A champions Napoli.

In addition to Sarr, Napoli are reportedly set to rival Juventus for the signature of Nottingham Forest midfielder Orel Mangala.

The 25-year-old could leave the City Ground this month after falling out of favour under new Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Mangala started 15 of the club's first 17 Premier League games, before Steve Cooper was relieved of his duties following a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in December.

In contrast to the trust shown in him by Cooper, Mangala has started just one of Espirito Santo's four competitive games in charge.

According to journalist Florian Plettenburg, Juventus and Napoli are keen to bring the Belgium international to Serie A.

Juventus have recently spoken with the player's representatives, as they look to sign Mangala on a six-month loan deal with an option to buy.

While Massimiliano Allegri will have the final say in Juventus' pursuit, Napoli have submitted an offer over the last few days.

The midfielder is also on the radar of Turkish giants Galatasaray, who have already seen their initial proposal rejected by Forest.

Top News

23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United transfer target Randal Kolo Muani is very likely to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, according to reports. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly set their sights on West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus, with Pep Guardiola keen to strengthen his struggling squad. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for the signature of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in the summer of 2025. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final Premier League gameweek before Christmas appropriately served up some crackers, including a festive feast of goals in North London, where Liverpool ran riot in an exhilarating 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Even when the pulse settled a little after this compellingspectacle it was still difficult to know quite where to start todissect this nine-goal thriller. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Ange Postecoglou cut an irritated figure as he claimed he's going to stop answering questions about Tottenham's tactics. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Borussia Dortmund attacker Julian Brandt next month. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's Mohamed Salah refused to give anything away when asked whether he could break Ian Rush's all-time goalscoring record after the Reds' remarkable 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's astonishing 6-3 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening saw a multitude of records and achievements surpassed, as the Reds moved four points clear at the top of the table. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Ahli have reportedly emerged as the favourites to sign Marcus Rashford, with the Manchester United attacker widely expected to be on the move during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Everton have become surprise leaders in one statistic across Europe thanks to their draw at home to Chelsea. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool will spend Christmas Day four points clear at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a breathtaking 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur in North London. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Kylian Mbappe struck a landmark effort to put himself firmly among Real Madrid's elite. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has insisted that he is "absolutely happy" with his side's goalless draw at Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 talksport.com If you thought Mohamed Salah couldn't set yet another record, think again. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For a second time in successive Gulf Cup competitions, The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait will meet in the group stage, with this upcoming game taking place on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Amad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong is supposedly not a 'concrete target' for Liverpool amid speculation over Trent Alexander-Arnold's future. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid moved into second spot in the La Liga table courtesy of a 4-2 success over Sevilla in Sunday afternoon's contest at Bernabeu, with Los Blancos ending 2024 on a high note. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Oman and Qatar will compete in the Gulf Cup for the first time in over a decade on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, each seeking their first victory in this edition of the tournament. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly received offers from three clubs for defender Eric Garcia, but the player is pushing against a move away from Catalonia during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have broken two unwanted club Premier League records in their humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk New Wolverhampton Wanderers' boss Vitor Pereira earned three points when his side comfortably beat Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City 3-0 away from home on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Aaron Ramsdale was spotted wearing a modified goalkeeper glove in Southampton's Premier League clash at Fulham. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea squandered the chance to go top of the Premier League table for a couple of hours as Everton held the Blues to a goalless stalemate at Goodison Park. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Djed Spence has been named in the Tottenham Hotspur starting XI for their Premier League clash with Liverpool, while Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo get the nod up front for the visitors. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Manchester United were beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth in a defeat that saw Ruben Amorim's side achieve an unwanted record. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Gary Neville believes that Ruben Amorim will allow Marcus Rashford to leave Manchester United for the sake of 'himself and the club'. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola isn't immune from the sack at Manchester City having continued their unprecedented and dismal run of form. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly earmarked Leeds United shot-stopper Illan Meslier as one of two goalkeeper targets ahead of the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Burnley's James Trafford as their top transfer target for the January transfer window.