標籤: audition

crystal Palace We will take a closer look at transfer target Ousmane Diomande tonight, with the defender set to play for Sporting CP against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The first leg will take place in Lisbon before returning to London on 15 April. For Crystal Palace, this encounter provides a timely opportunity to assess the player they have been following for months.

22-year-old Diomande has become a key player for Sporting. He has already impressed by combining domestic league action with European exposure this season. In Liga Portugal alone, he has played over 1,100 minutes, showing consistency in selection and performances.

At 190 cm tall, the centre-back brings a strong physical presence. He also contributes defensively with regular clearances and winning duels, while remaining comfortable in possession. His profile matches what many Premier League clubs now want in central defenders.

These include Crystal Palace, who are already close to signing him.

Previous move and Crystal Palace transfer interest

Last summer, Crystal Palace made a €55m (£47m) offer for Ousmane Diomande. This step was not takenBut the interest remains.

The London Club keeps a close watch on them. The match against Arsenal will give them a first-hand look at how they perform against Premier League level opponents.

Other English clubs including newcastle unitedAlso keep an eye on Ivory Coast International. even Manchester United Were linked at one point, when Reuben Amorim was in charge. Nevertheless, Crystal Palace is the team that has progressed furthest in previous attempts.

Sporting, for its part, is ready to do business under the right circumstances. The defender recently renewed his contract until 2030 with a release clause of €80m (£69m).

However, reports from Portugal indicate the club will consider offers closer to his market value, which is currently around €45m (£39m).

What can the match decide?

Ousmane Diomande is expected to be part of Ivory Coast’s squad for the upcoming World Cup. According to the Portuguese newspaper, this adds another layer to his situation ballBecause strong performance can increase both demand and price.

However, the immediate focus right now is on the Champions League clash. Both of these games provide a clear benchmark. Facing Arsenal over two legs offers a direct test against Diomande’s level in England.

For Crystal Palace, the timing is ideal. They already know the player, have already explored the possibility of a deal and now they have a new chance to evaluate him in a high-level setting.

If he performs well, this week could go a long way in deciding whether Palace come back with a serious offer in the summer.

🇮🇹Juan Cabal | Crystal Palace initiated contact

🔁 Versatile Juventus player
📉Potentially available relatively cheap
🩺 Be careful with that medical…https://t.co/0xpTDziedw #cpfc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 24 March 2026

Josh Minott is attempting to carve out a consistent role during his fourth NBA season. The former Boston Celtics forward is making a strong case for an extended opportunity following a trade for the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets.

Minot had the best performance of his career during Brooklyn’s 108-97 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. The 6-foot-8 wing kept the Nets, who were down more than half their rotation, competitive for most of the game. He made a post A career-high 24 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, 4-of-7 from three and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line with three steals and three blocks in 24 minutes.

When Minot was asked what led to the best inning of his career, he said, “I would just say my teammates.” “They were finding me at their cuts when I was open. I mean, I basically owe them everything. I didn’t really do anything that didn’t involve them finding me… I’m coming into a situation in the middle of the season. So I have to make a crazy mental shift. So for them to really help speed things up and help me understand who we are as a team — just our game, values, how we play — I mean, I would say that.” That’s everything. They definitely help guide me, and I’m looking forward to what else they have to teach me.”

https://t.co/fqqnByahKa pic.twitter.com/x6GBVVDoBo

– Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) 13 March 2026

Minot joined the Nets at the trade deadline from the Boston Celtics, who dropped his minimum salary below the luxury tax. The 23-year-old has performed well for Boston earlier this season.

Josh Minott’s heads turned during the Nets’ rebuilding audition

Minot averaged 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.8 steals in 18.5 minutes per game in his first 27 appearances this season. He shot 50.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three on 7.1 attempts per 100 possessions during the stretch.

The 6-foot-8 Memphis product, with a seven-foot wingspan and above-average athleticism, has impressed as a defensive playmaker. His promising three-point shooting and drive length at the rim offer an interesting two-way upside for the Nets team that acquired him at no cost.

Minot’s four made threes and six steals (steals + blocks) on Thursday were both career highs.

“I was looking forward to it,” he said of his performance. “But at the end of the day, I wouldn’t call it futile, but there is a goal. So overall, I don’t want to say I’m satisfied, but I’m quite happy with my performance… I’m just trying to keep that momentum going. I understand that they had a momentum before me, and I’m not trying to ruin that. I’m just trying to find a way to come in and impact the game. Just keep the team up, elevate the team and its values.” “I’m trying.”

Minot should have ample opportunity to prove his worth as the Nets increase their offensive aggression to close out the season. Brooklyn recently shut down Igor Demin and Deron Sharp for the season. Michael Porter Jr. (right ankle sprain), Nolan Traore (rest) and Zaire Williams (illness) also were ruled out against Atlanta.

The Nets have a $2.58 million team option on Minot for next season.