Arsenal and Manchester City target ‘leaning towards’ Manchester United transfer after speaking with Ruben Amorim

Sporting prima Ousmane Diomande has spoken with Ruben Amorim astir joining Manchester United and is increasing progressively keen connected a determination to Old Trafford.

Having joined Sporting from Danish outfit Midtjylland successful January 2023, Diomande has rapidly earned a estimation arsenic 1 of the astir promising young defenders successful Portuguese football.

Diomande made 26 appearances successful the Portuguese apical formation successful his debut play past word and played a cardinal relation arsenic Sporting – led by United’s caller caput manager Amorim – stormed to an historical 20th league title.

And portion Diomande’s Sporting vocation is inactive successful its infancy, speculation is mounting that the centre-back could beryllium acceptable for a big-money power distant from the Jose Alvalade Stadium earlier excessively long.

According to Sky, Diomande is ‘sure to beryllium 1 of the attractions of the adjacent 2 transportation windows, with Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal each battling it retired for the Ivory Coast international.

Diamonde has been firmly connected City’s radar since his Midtjylland days and the Premier League champions are targeting the Sporting sensation arsenic a ‘priority’.

City’s incoming manager of shot Hugo Viana – who volition succeed Txiki Begiristain astatine the extremity of the season – has already prepared a program of enactment to person Sporting’s president, Frederico Varandas, to portion with Diamonde.

However, the study states that United are determined not to autumn down their bitter rivals successful the transportation contention and Amorim has already spoken with Diamonde implicit the imaginable of pursuing him to the Theatre of Dreams.

It’s claimed Diamonde ‘knows it would beryllium beneficial for his development’ to proceed with Amorim and helium is truthful ‘leaning towards’ United, though City are refusing to springiness up anticipation successful their pursuit of the centre-half.

Diomande presently has an €80million (£66m) merchandise clause successful his woody with Sporting, though the Primeira Liga outfit recognise it whitethorn beryllium unrealistic to expect an connection adjacent to that figure.

The towering Ivorian, who stands astatine 6 ft 3 in, is tied into a declaration with Sporting until 2027.

Diomande’s cause has been keen to support his client’s feet connected the crushed and past twelvemonth highlighted however Sporting was the ‘ideal club’ for his improvement successful the game.

‘He is highly satisfied astatine Sporting, helium is precise focused connected the nine and the objectives for this season, which see winning the nationalist rubric and improving,’ Luis Cassaiano Neves told Portuguese outlet A Bola.

‘He knows that Sporting is the perfect nine for this evolution.

‘Sporting is Diomande’s contiguous and aboriginal and it is wherever helium wants to evolve.’

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