Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has spoken to Sporting CP centre-back Ousmane Diomande in a bid to convince him to join the Red Devils over fellow suitors Manchester City, according to a report .
Amorim, who moved to Old Trafford during the international break in November, has already confirmed this publicly he will not try to sign any of his former players when January transfer the window is open, but he is expected to pursue meetings with a handful of All-Stars at the end of the season.
Striker Viktor Gyokeres has dominated the headlines, but second Sky Sport Switzerlandit is Diomande who has emerged as Amorim’s target.
The report states city Coach Pep Guardiola has identified Diomande as a priority target to fix his defense and new sporting director Hugo Viana, who currently works at Sporting and will do so. move to the Etihad in the summer, he is already working to bring the 20-year-old with him.
Aware of the interest from his new rivals, Amorim is said to have contacted Diomande to discuss a move to the red Manchester side.
Diomande acknowledges the role Amorim has played in his career so far and is understood to see a reunion as a smart move. In fact, it is claimed that the Ivory Coast international is currently leaning towards a move to united.
City are expected to try to make up some ground with the contact in the January transfer window, with United left expecting the defender to wait until the summer to make any decision on a move away from Sporting.
Meanwhile, Amorim are also reported to be interested in young winger Geovany Quendathe €100m (£83m) buyout clause could complicate matters for United.
