On Ivory Coast’s bench, but PSG wants him

Paris Saint-Germain has made Ousmane Diomande its top target to strengthen the defense in the near term. The development, first reported on Saturday by journalist Loic Jego and picked up by multiple French outlets on Sunday, highlights PSG’s interest in securing the Sporting Lisbon centre-back for around 45 million euros.

The 22-year-old Ivorian possesses the qualities coach Luis Enrique values most: ambidextrous ball control, precise short and long distribution, and physical resilience. French reports have even dubbed him the "new Pacho," drawing a comparison to Willian Pacho, the Ecuadorian centre-back PSG signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for 35 million euros in the summer of 2024, who quickly became a key figure in the squad.

With PSG competing on multiple fronts and veteran Marquinhos already 31, signing Diomande is part of a longer-term strategy orchestrated by football advisor Luis Campos. Currently under contract with Sporting until 2027, Diomande is expected to extend until 2030 after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, where he is representing Ivory Coast. While his release clause stands at 80 million euros, it is largely a protective measure for Sporting rather than a likely transfer fee.

Diomande is not the only centre-back catching PSG’s eye in Portugal; Benfica’s 23-year-old Tomas Araujo is also on the club’s shortlist.