Manchester United Gets Closer to Amorim’s Old Target Who Looks Like Jonathan Tah

Gilabola.com – Manchester United are again looking at the opportunity to bring in Ousmane Diomande after the defender’s contract talks with Sporting reportedly did not progress.

This situation exists when Manchester United’s defense is still unstable, Ruben Amorim needs new options, and management feels that next summer is the time to improve the team structure.

Diomande is also said to have similar characteristics to Bayern Munich’s central defender, Jonathan Tah, which makes him more suited to the needs of the back line.

Manchester United’s defense still often has problems at important moments. Amorim is described as still having to force several players to appear in positions that are not ideal. This condition was clearly visible when five defensive changes were made when they were ahead against West Ham, but still conceded towards the end of the match.

The problem also appears to be the lack of consistency of the full-backs. Some of them have not been able to show determination to secure the main place in the team. This makes the defense structure change frequently.

The central defender sector is also experiencing its own pressure. Injuries to several players meant that Amorim sometimes chose defensive lineups based on who was available, rather than who was the best fit.

Lisandro Martínez’s return is indeed good news. However, Luke Shaw still has to play as a back-up, while Harry Maguire’s future remains unclear. This condition prompted the club to look for a new figure who could strengthen the back row.

Opportunity Brings Diomande

According to Portuguese media reports, Sporting is said to want to renew Diomande’s contract until 2030 with an increase in salary. However, the response given was said to have not met the club’s expectations, both from the player and his staff. This situation has made several English clubs monitor the progress of the negotiations.

Diomande is known to be entering the final 18 months of his contract towards the summer of 2026. The Ivory Coast defender understands that many Premier League teams are interested in him, including Manchester United, Newcastle and Crystal Palace.

The long-standing relationship between Amorim and Diomande also increases the opportunities. Amorim is a figure who gave the player confidence and opportunities to develop while he was still at Sporting. This could be an important factor if Diomande wants to move to England.

Statistical comparison models show that Diomande has a playing style very similar to Jonathan Tah. His towering height, strength in duels and comfort with the ball make him suitable for the demands of modern defenders.

Even though he is only 22 years old, Diomande has already made more than 100 appearances for Sporting. His experience at international level is also increasing with nine caps with Ivory Coast.

Sporting is said to have set a release clause of around IDR 1.56 trillion. This figure is considered by Manchester United management to make sense if Maguire is released, considering that Diomande is considered capable of integrating himself into a three-defense composition with Martínez and Matthijs de Ligt.

Apart from technical quality, managers usually like players they already know well. Diomande, who once worked under Amorim, certainly meets these criteria.

Our opinion:

We consider that Manchester United’s chances of bringing in Diomande are quite realistic considering the conditions of his contract and personal relationship with Amorim. However, high prices are still a serious consideration, especially if the club has to focus on improving more than one position in the squad.