Sporting are being linked with a move for Venezia central midfielder Issa Doumbia, with the 22-year-old Italian-Ivorian’s long-term future in Serie B increasingly uncertain.
Doumbia, who wears the No 8 shirt for Venezia, is listed with a market value of €8.00m and is attracting interest from the Portuguese giants, according to data collated on 18 May 2026. The reported probability of the transfer remains unclear, with the move currently rated only as “?” and no agreement in place between the clubs.
The Treviglio-born midfielder, standing at 1.87m and operating primarily as a central midfielder, has built a reputation in Serie B for his physical presence and right-footed distribution from the middle of the pitch. Registered as having dual nationality – Italy and Côte d’Ivoire – Doumbia’s international future also remains open, adding further intrigue to his profile for potential suitors across Europe.
Details of his contract situation at Venezia are not publicly specified in the latest data, with no expiry date listed. That uncertainty has prompted speculation that he could either move for a fee close to his €8.00m valuation or, if his deal is nearing its end, potentially run it down and test the market as a free agent in a future window.
Venezia, competing in Serie B, risk losing a key asset if they cannot tie the midfielder down to firm terms, especially with a club of Sporting’s stature monitoring the situation in Liga Portugal. There is, however, no indication yet of formal talks or an agreed transfer fee.
If a move to Lisbon does materialise, it would mark a significant step in Doumbia’s career, offering him a platform in European competition and the chance to enhance his reputation well beyond Italy’s second tier.
