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39 Liverpool are set for a summer of change with Jurgen Klopp leaving Anfield at the end of the season.
In addition, the Reds will be welcoming a new director of football in Richard Hughes, and that’s before looking at the playing squad.
Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara and Adrian are all out of contract this summer, so we should see some replacements join Liverpool in the upcoming transfer window.
One defender the Reds are apparently eyeing has been deemed one of the best young players in the world, and he also knows managerial target Ruben Amorim well.
The player in question is Sporting Lisbon centre-back Ousmane Diomande.
According to FootballTransfers, Liverpool are monitoring the 21-year-old’s situation, but they’re not the only ones.
As well as the Reds, Newcastle United are also keeping tabs on Diomande, while Chelsea are said to be admirers of the player too.
The report claims Liverpool are looking for a high-calibre centre-back who can come in and help lead the line for the new manager.
Considering Diomande has been a revelation under Amorim, it looks as though the Reds could be looking at two major acquisitions from Sporting.
However, the Ivory Coast international won’t come cheap. The report claims Sporting will likely demand the full €80million (£69million) release clause.
What would Ousmane Diomande bring to Liverpool this summer?
Despite his price, Diomande would be a great shout for Liverpool because of his amazing talent, work-rate, physicality and high ceiling.
Scouted’s Scouted50 – which lists the next 50 breakout talents to watch across the season – features the reported Reds target at number five.
They wrote: “He ticks the boxes of the extreme demands elite teams now place on their centre-backs.
“He’s big and fast, a dominant defender in duels and solid in the air, calm and confident in possession, as well as remarkably two-footed on the ball.
“The Ivorian will be Sporting’s next big sale to the elite of the elite.”
Meanwhile, Football Talent Scout‘s Jacek Kulig called Diomande “one of the most exciting young talents in Europe” last year.
His main strengths are his physicality, his vision and his speed, added the scouting report.
This is certainly one to watch for Liverpool, especially if they manage to get their hands on Amorim.
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