Leeds agree personal terms to sign £39m star

Leeds United have set the blueprints for survival at the first time of asking and are now looking to build on their plans by becoming an established Premier League side.

Those plans won’t come cheap, however, and may start with the arrival of several new names, who could take Daniel Farke‘s side to a whole new level next season.

Leeds take key step in move to sign £39m star

It was a hard sell for the 49ers to pull off in the last summer window. Leeds had just achieved promotion, but doubts were already beginning to creep in over Farke’s long-term future and the project itself still looked unstable. A lot can change in a year, though. Suddenly, this is a side with a long-term manager and a thriving project with plenty more to come.

The manager’s system change proved pivotal last season and the best thing that the 49ers can now do is welcome players who could slot straight in this summer.

It’s why the likes of Ayase Ueda and Yunus Musah are on their radar, with the former coming off the back of a particularly impressive season

Alas, it would make even more sense if the Yorkshire club focused their recruitment on an additional centre-back now that they operate with a back three, which could see a big-money name arrive.

As reported by Spanish journalist Christian Vaquero, Leeds have now agreed personal terms with Ousmane Diomande and negotiations with Sporting Club are in the final stretch.

The Portuguese club won’t go below the €45m mark (£39m), which means Leeds will have to break their transfer record to secure his signature. At 22 years old and still so full of potential, though, Diomande would be worth every penny.

Why Diomande would be a transformative signing for Leeds

If Leeds are looking to make a statement, then they should break their transfer record to welcome Diomande.

It wasn’t so long ago that he was a wanted man across the Premier League’s best clubs, notably Premier League champions Arsenal. Now, those at Elland Road have the chance to spend big and land an undeniable gem.

In terms of suitability, the 22-year-old would also be the perfect fit. He was at his best under Ruben Amorim at Sporting Club, often featuring at the very centre of his back three. By moving back into a similar system alongside the likes of Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon, the Ivory Coast star would rediscover his best form.

As a collective, Diomande, Struijk and Rodon would provide ideal balance for Farke. Whilst his current two defenders are more aggressive than Diomande, the Sporting star completes his best work when recovering possession and distributing on the ball – two weaknesses of Rodon and Struijk.

In terms of high-profile signings, he would be up there with Georginio Rutter. Like Diomande could do, the Frenchman also arrived for a hefty fee from another European club in the form of Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.

He may not have started well at Elland Road but he was ultimately a huge hit. In truth, the club have rarely made a splash quite like that since he signed.

Indeed, he was game-changing in the Championship, scoring seven goals and supplying a whopping 16 assists in 2023/24. Despite player in a different position, Diomande could be as equally game-changing, just at the back.

It makes perfect sense that Leeds are looking to steal those same headlines now, as they head into their second season back in the top flight on the hunt for more than just safety.