Nottingham Forest have agreed a £34.6m deal to sign highly-rated defender Ousmane Diomande from Sporting Lisbon, a move that could be the key to unlocking Oliver Glasner's preferred 4-4-2 formation at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest have confirmed the signing of Diomande, who impressed at the World Cup for Ivory Coast and has been coveted by Premier League clubs for several years.
The 23-year-old defender will add height and physical presence to the Forest backline, while also being confident on the ball. He is likely to form a partnership with fellow centre-back Yerry Murillo, who has emerged as one of the league's best defenders at just 23 years old.
Diomande's arrival is the latest in a series of signings that could shape Glasner's dream XI at Nottingham Forest. The Austrian manager has already been linked with several other players, including Tottenham's Lucas Bergvall, who has reportedly stated his desire to leave the London club in search of first-team football.
Glasner has given a revealing interview to Sky Sports, in which he said 4-4-2 was his preferred formation. With the players already at Forest and some rumoured arrivals, doing that at the City Ground looks a real possibility.
Matz Sels is set to remain Forest's goalkeeper, having signed a new contract until 2028. The Belgian shot-stopper was one of the signings of the season in the 2024-25 campaign.
Rico Lewis could be on his way to Forest, with rumours suggesting that as part of Elliot Anderson's sale to Manchester City, there was talk of Lewis coming the other way. Lewis fell out of favour with Pep Guardiola last season, featuring in just 11 matches.
Omari Hutchinson and Morgan Gibbs-White are set to remain key players in Glasner's midfield, with the latter signing a new contract last year. Hutchinson has been linked with several other clubs, including Aston Villa and Newcastle United.
Forest are also reportedly interested in signing Santiago Castro from Bologna, who has been on their radar for the last 12 months. The 21-year-old forward scored seven goals in his 35 Serie A matches last season.
Meanwhile, Igor Jesus is set to remain Forest's main striker, having scored three goals in the run-in last season. Another season in the Premier League and Forest fans will be hopeful he can improve on those numbers.
Forest's managerial merry-go-round continues, with Oliver Glasner set to succeed Vitor Pereira at the City Ground. The Portuguese manager was handed the sack after keeping the club up, with Forest opting to activate a break-out clause in his contract.
The new signings, including Diomande, will be Glasner's first major test as Forest manager. The Austrian has a reputation for getting the best out of his players, and fans will be hoping that he can do the same at the City Ground.
Glasner will be hoping to get his dream XI in place as soon as possible, with the new season just around the corner. With Diomande's arrival, the foundations are in place for a promising new era at Nottingham Forest.
Source: Planet Football