Leeds could see bid accepted to sign £26m star

Leeds United could be set to make a splash in the summer transfer window this year as they line up a potential club-record signing to bolster Daniel Farke’s squad.

After finishing 14th in the Premier League in their first season back in the big time under the German head coach, the board are looking to improve the team to push on next term.

The Whites are reportedly interested in a deal to sign Sporting centre-back Ousmane Diomande, who would cost a club-record fee of £39m, eclipsing the £35.5m they paid Hoffenheim for Georginio Rutter in January 2023.

It has also been claimed that the West Yorkshire outfit have already agreed personal terms with the Ivorian defender, which suggests that they now only have to agree a fee with Sporting to get a deal over the line.

Deciding to pay a club-record fee for a player is not a call that the club will make lightly, though, and it remains to be seen whether or not the 49ers will go through with it.

Leeds interested in deal to sign Liga Portugal star

Diomande made 17 appearances in the Liga Portugal for Sporting in the 2025/26 campaign, after winning the division in the previous two seasons, and was dominant in aerial duels.

The Ivorian star, however, is not the only player from the Portuguese top-flight who has caught Farke and the recruitment team’s eye ahead of next season.

According to Portuguese reporter Pablo Oliveira, Leeds United are one of a number of teams interested in a deal to sign Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek in the summer transfer window.

The journalist claims that the Portuguese side are not prepared to negotiate with clubs for their star stopper, though, which means that the interested parties will have to bid £26m to see an offer accepted, as that is his release clause.

Oliveira adds that Porto, who won the Liga Portugal in the 2025/26 campaign, and Benfica are also eyeing up the Czechia international as a potential signing this summer.

He does not reveal, though, whether Porto, Benfica, or Leeds are prepared to pay the £26m that it will take to sign the goalkeeper, but all three teams now know how much they have to pay to see an offer accepted.

Why Ousmane Diomande would love Lukas Hornicek

The Whites should pay the asking price for the Braga star because he would be a brilliant addition to the squad, and Diomande would love to play alongside him if they both end up at Elland Road.

Karl Darlow ended the season as the club’s first-choice option between the sticks, but there is room for Farke to bring in a better goalkeeper for the 2026/27 campaign.

The veteran Wales international conceded 1.50 more goals than expected based on the xG against him, and only completed 58% of his attempted passes, as he is not particularly comfortable at playing out from the back under pressure.

Hornicek’s form for Braga this season, meanwhile, shows that he is far better with the ball at his feet when playing out from the back, whilst he is also a much more effective shot-stopper.

Diomande is a progressive passer, averaging 24.6 forward passes per 90 this season, who wants to step forward and progress play for his team by playing out of defence, which means that he needs a goalkeeper behind him who is comfortable on the ball and wants to play.

The Czechia international, therefore, would be a much better fit for the Ivorian than Darlow, who often resorted to kicking the ball long instead of taking a risk under pressure to play out on the floor.

Hornieck, who was dubbed a “prodigy” by writer Zach Lowy, also caught the eye with his performances in the Europa League, completing 66% of his attempted passes and preventing 3.73 more goals than expected across 14 appearances in the competition.

The 23-year-old star’s sweeping numbers in the Portuguese league, completing 1.4 successful run-outs per game, also suggest that Diomande would love him.

Having a goalkeeper who is far more willing to come off his line to sweep up balls in behind the defence means that the backline can step up, which would result in Diomande being able to play higher up the pitch with the ball at his feet, so that he can show off his progressive passing.

Therefore, signing the Sporting and Braga stars from the Portuguese top-flight this summer could improve Farke’s side and be a fantastic double deal for the club.