Leeds United have already put out a statement of intent this summer by tying down club captain Ethan Ampadu to a new four-year contract at Elland Road.

Clubs who finished higher up the table in the Premier League were reportedly keen on signing the Wales international, but they have convinced him to commit his future to the Whites.

The West Yorkshire outfit were relegated from the top-flight in the 2022/23 campaign directly after selling Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City for £45m and Raphinha to Barcelona for £55m, losing two of their best players in the same transfer window.

They appear to have learned their lesson and are not as keen to make a profit on their star players this summer, rejecting the chance to cash in on Ampadu.

Now, the Leeds captain will remain at Elland Road and, hopefully, lead the team to another successful season in the Premier League in the 2026/27 campaign.

Leeds hoping for quick deal to sign Liga Portugal star

Keeping hold of Ampadu, who started 35 matches in the top-flight this season, has to be the start of an ambitious summer for the club if they want to push higher up the table next term.

Now, Daniel Farke's side are reportedly eyeing a star who would be an ambitious addition to the squad, and a player Ampadu would love to play alongside at Elland Road.

According to Ivorian outlet 225Foot, Leeds United are interested in a deal to sign Sporting central defender Ousmane Diomande in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Whites are keen on a move for the Ivorian star and want to secure a quick deal for the 22-year-old talent, possibly to prevent another team from swooping in.

It adds, though, that Sporting want a mammoth fee of £43m for the centre-back, and it remains to be seen whether or not Leeds are prepared to pay a club-record fee for him, with their current record standing at the £35.5m paid for Georginio Rutter in 2023.

225Foot does, however, reveal that Diomande wants to move to the Premier League if he decides to leave Sporting this summer, which gives the Whites an advantage over any teams from other major European leagues who want to sign him.

Why Ethan Ampadu would love Ousmane Diomande at Leeds

After deciding to commit his future to the club, Ampadu would surely love to see the club being ambitious in the transfer market by spending serious money to bolster the squad, which they would be doing with a deal for Diomande.

More than that, though, the Welsh star would love for the Whites to secure a move for the Ivorian star because of his qualities on the ball as a central defender.

Playing in the defensive midfield role ahead of the defence, Amapdu could benefit from having a centre-back behind him who excels at carrying the ball forward and progressing play for the team.

Diomande, who only played 17 league games due to a muscle injury and the African Cup of Nations, showcased his ability on the ball in the Liga Portugal for Sporting in the 2025/26 campaign, offering far more in possession than Joe Rodon did for Leeds.

The £43m-rated star progresses the ball far more consistently than the Welsh defender does from a centre-back position, whilst losing the ball less frequently, and this means that he could improve how effective Leeds are at progressing play through the third.

This means that signing Diomande to replace Rodon in the starting line-up as a right-sided centre-back could lead to Ampadu getting more of the ball in midfield in better positions, as the Ivorian is more likely to find him with passes between the lines to start attacks.

The Sporting star was also once described as a "dominant" defender by journalist Kevin Fernandes, and his form across 31 league games in the 2024/25 campaign back that up.

Diomande won 53% of his ground duels and 65% of his aerial duels that season, whilst winning more duels per game (4.3) than Rodon managed (4.0) in the Premier League this term.

The Leeds target could be a phenomenal addition to the squad, therefore, because he offers brilliant technical and defensive qualities that could benefit Ampadu and the team as a whole.