Ousmane Diomande transfer hopes fade for Crystal Palace after new Sporting deal

​Ousmane Diomande is set to stay at Sporting CP for the foreseeable future, with Crystal Palace now expected to end their pursuit of the highly rated centre-back.

Palace had identified the Ivorian defender as a leading candidate to replace Marc Guehi, who joined Manchester City in January, but a move now looks out of reach.

Diomande recently signed a new long-term contract with Sporting running until 2030, which includes an €80m release clause. That price tag has effectively priced Palace out of any deal, forcing the Premier League side to reconsider their plans at the heart of defence.

During the winter window, Palace also explored alternatives in Europe. None of those options materialised, and the club will now reassess the market ahead of the summer.

For Diomande, the contract extension underlines Sporting’s faith in him as a key asset for the present and future, while ensuring that only Europe’s wealthiest clubs are realistically able to test their resolve in upcoming windows.
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