Forest and Sporting CP near agreement but payment timetable delays completion
Nottingham Forest are on the verge of signing Ivory Coast centre-back Ousmane Diomande, but the deal remains unfinished because of a dispute over how performance-related payments should be structured. The move, which manager Oliver Glasner has reportedly backed as a priority this summer, has been agreed in principle between the clubs but awaits finalisation of the add-on schedule.
Sources close to negotiations say Sporting CP and Forest have settled the outline of a transfer worth around €40 million, with additional contingent payments of between €3–5 million dependent on performance. Sporting had originally listed the 22-year-old at approximately €50 million, but Forest were able to negotiate a lower base fee.
"That remains the final obstacle before the transfer can be completed."
The sticking point now concerns the timeframe over which the bonus payments would be triggered. Sporting want the add-ons to be paid or become due over a shorter period than the structure currently proposed by Forest, and talks are focused on resolving that specific clause.
Practical consequences for player and clubs
Until the contractual detail is settled, Sporting have instructed Diomande to return to first-team duties. The defender had been expected to be excused from a friendly against Monaco while negotiations advanced, but Sporting’s position is to maintain standard squad responsibilities until a signature is in place.
That stance means Diomande is currently training with Sporting and could feature in upcoming fixtures unless the remaining commercial issue is resolved prior to kick-off. For Forest, the delay is frustrating but not considered a major derailment; there is still confidence on both sides that the transfer will complete before the window shuts.
Why the move matters to Nottingham
Should the transfer conclude, Diomande would represent a significant defensive acquisition for Forest at the City Ground. The club’s recruitment strategy this summer has been active after player sales earlier in the window, and Glasner’s desire to bolster his back line makes the centre-back a high-priority target.
The structure of performance-related fees is more than a technicality. It affects Sporting’s accounting and cash flow projections, and it governs how Forest budget for payments over multiple seasons. How clubs agree to spread such liabilities can influence future transfer strategy and wage planning.
- Agreed base fee: approx. €40m
- Potential add-ons: €3–5m, disagreement over timing
- Player age: 22
- Clubs involved: Nottingham Forest and Sporting CP
| Element | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Base transfer fee | €40 million |
| Performance-related add-ons | €3–5 million |
| Initial valuation (Sporting) | €50 million |
Forest supporters will be watching closely. Completing the acquisition would allow Glasner to integrate a player he reportedly targeted, while failure to resolve the timing of add-ons could see Sporting keep Diomande for the short term or reopen interest from other suitors.
For now, both clubs appear motivated to reach a conclusion. Sporting expect some departures this summer and Forest have the funds to conclude major transfers after player sales. The final conversations are therefore technical rather than substantive: how and when the top-up payments will be triggered.
The next 48–72 hours are likely to be crucial. If the parties agree a payment timetable acceptable to both sides, the paperwork could be completed quickly and Diomande would become one of Forest’s marquee summer signings. If not, negotiations may stretch longer before the window deadline draws near.
