Man Utd transfer target set to snub Man City after secret Ruben Amorim talks

Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande is said to be leaning towards joining Manchester United rather than Manchester City as interest in him continues to grow.

The talented centre-half, 20, has admirers all throughout Europe after impressing for Sporting since joining the Portuguese giants nearly 18 months ago and is likely to be the subject of transfer interest in January.

After losing the services of head coach Ruben Amorim, Sporting will be desperate not to lose any of their top players in the winter window. And while their boss has vowed he won't raid his old club in January, Manchester United are expected to come calling next summer.

Viktor Gyokeres and Geovany Quenda have been linked with the Red Devils in recent weeks, however, United also appear to hold an interest in Diomande, who is on the radar of their arch-rivals, Manchester City.

Sky have suggested that United may have the edge in any transfer race, though, due to Amorim. He is said to have already spoken with Diomande about the possibility of working together again at Old Trafford, with United keen to ensure they don't fall behind their rivals when it comes to their pursuit of the sought-after youngster.

He isn't the only Sporting alumni to discuss signing the defender. Hugo Viana is poised to become City's new sporting director and he also has designs on luring him to the Premier League for his new club.

Diomande is 'leaning towards' United, though, and it's due to the Amorim factor, with the defender keen to keep developing under his eye.

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Diomande is believed to have a €80million (£66m) release clause written into his contract, meaning Sporting would stand to profit big time on a player they snapped up from Danish outfit Midtjylland.

His agent, Luis Cassaiano Neves, moved to cool transfer speculation last year, citing that Sporting was the perfect environment for his development. He told Portuguese outlet A Bola : "He is extremely satisfied at Sporting, he is very focused on the club and the objectives for this season, which include winning the national title and improving.

"He knows that Sporting is the ideal club for this evolution. Sporting is Diomande’s present and future and it is where he wants to evolve."

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