One of the world’s most gifted ball-player defenders is being pursued by Newcastle.
The persistent injury crisis at Newcastle United is an indication that the team did not make enough additions during the summer.
The fact that the Magpies only brought in five new players has turned out to be their undoing, especially since they were preparing for their first Champions League season in twenty years.
Eddie Howe’s team has lost their last two games against Borussia Dortmund, which has left them bottom of their Champions League group in addition to being six points behind fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Even though they still have a chance to save their season and advance to the next round, it will be tough, and the Toon must use the January transfer window to strengthen a roster that has been severely damaged by injuries.
Hiring a new center-back is a priority because Sven Botman, Dan Burn, and Fabian Schar are all injured, and Ousmane Diomande is at the top of their list of candidates.
News about Ousmane Diomande’s transfer to Newcastle
The Chronicle claims that Newcastle might put Sporting Lisbon to the test by making a £58 million offer for their highly-regarded center-back.
Sporting is unlikely to change their assessment of the player after stipulating a £70 million release clause in his contract, but the Magpies may make a preliminary offer to gauge interest.
His ascent and valuation have both been swift, but Newcastle has demonstrated that they are willing to walk away from the table if clubs or agents ask for absurd sums of money.
Diomande is regarded as the most promising African prospect in Europe, and several clubs are interested in him, including divisional rivals Chelsea and Arsenal.
With a bidding war for the 19-year-old expected in January or next summer, sporting director Dan Ashworth will need to work even harder to entice him to St James’ Park.
It is clear that Newcastle, like most clubs, are thinking long term with their transfers, and Diomande, who has risen to stardom for the Portuguese giants this season, would be a huge upgrade on current defender, Burn.
According to the stats, Diomande is an upgrade over Burn.
Burn has been Howe’s first-choice left-back when Newcastle has a fully fit squad, appearing in that position 14 times this season after establishing himself as a key figure in the squad.
The 31-year-old has transformed into a cult hero since joining from Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2022, but he may become surplus to requirements if the Magpies are to become regular European challengers.
With Newcastle adopting a more possession-based approach this season, Howe is looking to add a ball-playing center-back to compete with Schar and Botman.
Diomande, who has been described as “immense” by journalist Antonio Mango with the ball at his feet, could be the ideal candidate for the job, having demonstrated his elegance and calmness in possession at Sporting.
Burn’s 6 foot 6 frame, on the other hand, means he never looks at ease with the ball at his feet, and he’s demonstrated his struggles as a ball-playing defender this season.
| Ousmane Diomande vs Dan Burn 23/24 statistics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | Ousmane Diomande (Premeira Liga) | Dan Burn (Premier League) |
| Pass completion % | 89.6% | 82.4% |
| Shot-creating actions | 1.72 | 0.76 |
| Progressive passes | 5.65 | 3.05 |
| Successful take-ons | 0.77 | 0.10 |
| Carries into the final third | 0.96 | 0.29 |
| Passes into the final third | 7.28 | 2.76 |
| All stats via FBref | ||
Despite playing primarily as a left-back with the freedom to push forward, Burn falls short of Diomande’s ability with the ball at his feet.
The “unbelievable” youngster, as dubbed by Mango, outperforms the Englishman in every possession-based and ball-carrying statistic, including progressive passes, successful take-ons, and carries into the final third, as shown in the table above.
With this in mind, Howe must plan for the future by ruthlessly dropping Burn for the international against Ivory Coast.
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