Nottingham Forest Close to Finalizing Ousmane Diomande Deal
Nottingham Forest have dragged the Ousmane Diomande deal back from the brink – and this time, it looks like they intend to finish the job.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reports that Forest are “moving to final stages” in negotiations with Sporting Lisbon over a €40m (£34.2m) agreement for the 22-year-old centre-back, with all parties confident of getting it over the line after weeks of turbulence in talks.
For a brief spell, the collapse of the original discussions had opened a door for others. Liverpool, in particular, were viewed as a possible beneficiary if Forest walked away from a defender available for under £35m in a market where that price bracket is starting to feel like a discount. The surprise, initially, was that Forest appeared ready to step back at all.
They have now stepped right back in.
Forest close in as Liverpool look elsewhere
The renewed push from the City Ground effectively removes Diomande from Liverpool’s list of realistic options. Any faint hope of a late hijack fades with every report of “agreement close” and “final stages”.
At Anfield, the attention has already begun to tilt in a different direction. With Liverpool’s backline stretched and questions lingering over both right-back and centre-back depth, the club have been urged to revive their long-standing admiration for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.
The context matters. Liverpool are juggling priorities and a limited budget. The Bradley Barcola pursuit remains stuck short of the decisive phase, with PSG holding out for a huge fee for the France international. That stance has forced Liverpool to be more selective – and more creative – as they look to reinforce without blowing apart their remaining funds.
Diomande, on paper, looked like the sort of opportunity a smart recruitment team pounces on: young, athletic, with clear upside and a fee that sits well below the eye-watering sums now common for emerging centre-backs. Missing out on that profile will sting in some quarters.
Yet inside Liverpool, the equation is more nuanced.
Araujo vs Diomande: the numbers tell a story
Concerns over Diomande’s readiness at the very highest level were always part of the conversation. His numbers in the Primeira Liga are tidy, but they do not scream guaranteed Premier League dominance.
Compare that with Araujo’s output in La Liga and the picture shifts.
Per 90 minutes last season, Diomande averaged 68.77 successful passes with a 93.1% completion rate, creating 0.21 chances. Araujo, operating in a more demanding Spanish top flight, registered 65.4 successful passes at 92% accuracy, with 0.08 big chances created. On the ball, they are broadly comparable.
The separation comes in the duels – the heartland of a Premier League defender’s work.
Diomande won 48.6% of his duels and 57.4% of his aerial battles. Araujo, by contrast, dominated 63% of his duels and 67.2% in the air. He was dribbled past just 0.08 times per 90, compared to Diomande’s 0.35. Those are not marginal gains; they are the kind of differences that shape games in both boxes.
Factor in that Araujo has been doing this in La Liga, under the glare and pressure of Barcelona, and you start to see why Liverpool’s football department might trust him more as an instant plug-in solution for Andoni Iraola.
Short-term fix, long-term questions
Liverpool’s handling of this window has drawn criticism. The need for a new right-back and centre-back has been obvious for months, yet the decisive business has drifted into the late stages of the summer. That delay has shrunk the margin for error.
In that context, a season-long loan for Araujo – with no obligation to buy – suddenly looks like a pragmatic compromise. He offers cover at centre-back, can operate on the right side of defence, and arrives with elite-level experience. Financially, the structure is far lighter than a €40m outlay, even once his wages are taken into account.
Diomande might be cheaper than many of his peers, but he still represents a firm, long-term bet. Araujo, if the deal can be struck, offers flexibility. He buys Liverpool time: time to reassess the market next summer, time to see how Iraola’s system beds in, time to decide what profile of defender they truly need for the next cycle.
For Forest, the calculation is different. They are paying for potential and resale value, backing their recruitment model and their belief that Diomande’s raw tools will translate to the Premier League.
For Liverpool, the path is narrowing. Diomande is heading to the City Ground. Araujo, if they choose to push, could yet walk through the door at Anfield.
The question now is simple: in a summer of hesitation, will Liverpool finally move with conviction?
