Saudi club want Diakite transfer as serious West Brom transfer talks begin
Ousmane Diakite could potentially leave West Brom this summer.
Despite only signing from TSV Hartberg last year, Diakite could find himself on the move again after just one season at Albion.
Diakite, 25, was limited to just nine starts last season as he failed to displace the likes of Jayson Molumby and Alex Mowatt from the Baggies' midfield for the most part.
With Saudi clubs sniffing around the Malian, serious conversations have started at The Hawthorns.
Saudi club bid for Diakite
With West Brom's pre-season giving new manager Ryan Mason a first-hand look at the players within his squad, Diakite may be on the chopping block.
According to Africafoot on X (July 28), the midfielder has been the subject of a £3million bid from Saudi side Al Qadsiah.
Clubs in France and Italy are also said to be interested, with West Brom hoping they will be able to use the interest from multiple clubs to drive up Diakite's price.
| Ousmane Diakite | Championship stats (2024/25) |
| Appearences | 22 |
| Starts | 9 |
| Minutes per game | 40 |
| Total minutes | 870 |
With the failed transfer of Mikey Johnston to Flamengo, the sale of Diakite could raise some funds for the Albion to potentially reinvest in their squad before the new Championship campaign begins.
West Brom should cash in on Diakite
The defensive midfielder would command a sizeable fee for a player who rarely featured last season, making a sale plausible for West Brom in the summer.
The heart of the Baggies' midfield requires further investment, with the likes of Mowatt and Molumby failing to convince certain sections of the fan base.
If Diakite cannot force his way into the side, selling him and buying a new midfielder who could potentially become a regular under Mason would seem to make sense.
However, with the Baggies already on the hunt for a winger after missing out on Mikey Moore, they will need to land these new targets quickly, with the opening game against Blackburn on the horizon.
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