Overview
- This week Leeds are reported to be preparing a club-record offer worth about £43m, commonly framed as £35m guaranteed plus up to £8m in add-ons.
- Diomande is 22, has been tied to Sporting until 2030 and carries a widely reported release clause near €80m that Leeds’ offer would not trigger.
- Portuguese reports say Sporting could open talks around roughly €50m, making Leeds’ structured package a negotiating starting point rather than a buyout.
- Arsenal and Chelsea are named as the main rivals for the Ivory Coast international, leaving Leeds to compete with clubs that can outspend them.
- Diomande’s place in the Ivory Coast World Cup squad and Sporting’s preference not to sell before the tournament mean talks are likely to be delayed and his price could rise, and no clubs have confirmed any bid.