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As the race to sign Newcastle United target Ousmane Diomande continues, the Portuguese media today shares a new story on how Sporting are dealing with that.

Newspaper O Jogo comes up to say that the English interest in the player has been convincing Lions president Frederico Varandas to try to protect him.

For now, Diomande has a contract with Sporting until 2027 and is shielded by a €80m release clause, so that’s how much Newcastle and others would need to pay if they wanted to get him in January.

The Lions’ hurry to increase that price tag is because it is now seen as ‘practically a given’ that the defender will be leaving the club by next summer at the very latest, and they want to maximise any income.

Newcastle should probably be aware that, this week, reports from the English media have been saying that Manchester City are interested in the player as well.

Sporting are on top of the league table and that’s the main reason to try to hold the player in their squad for now.

Therefore, a little patience until the end of the season could help interested clubs to get the chance of negotiating a fee for the defender rather than be forced to pay a huge price midway through the campaign.