According to reports from L’Equipe, French club Lille has reportedly rejected two substantial offers, each valued at €27 million, for their promising 24-year-old center-back, Bafodé Diakité. Both AFC Bournemouth and the newly promoted Premier League side Sunderland AFC have seen their respective bids for the defender turned down by the Ligue 1 outfit.
Diakité has emerged as a primary transfer target for Bournemouth, particularly following Dean Huijsen`s recent move to Real Madrid and the ongoing speculation linking Paris Saint-Germain with Ilya Zabarni. Sources indicate that Diakité has already reached a preliminary agreement on personal terms with the Cherries, signaling his readiness for a potential transfer.
Meanwhile, Sunderland, keen to strengthen their squad ahead of their upcoming Premier League campaign, submitted a matching €27 million proposal, which Lille similarly declined. Despite Lille`s firm stance on their valuation, Diakité has reportedly communicated his strong desire to test himself in the Premier League. This aspiration could make a potential move to Régis Le Bris` side an appealing prospect for the young defender.
Lille is reportedly holding out for a significantly higher transfer fee for Diakité, valuing the defender at approximately €40 million before they would consider sanctioning his departure to another club.
