Lincoln City Transfer Target Oumar Diakité's Future Remains Unresolved

Lincoln City's reported interest in Oumar Diakité has been dealt a blow as the French club confirms they are looking to move him on. The Ivory Coast international has already stated the Championship was not his preferred option.

What happened?

Oumar Diakité has been told he can leave Stade de Reims, but his future remains unresolved. The 22-year-old forward has been linked with a move to Lincoln City, but his preference for Belgium has always made a move to the Imps unlikely.

Why it matters for Lincoln City

Lincoln City's reported interest in Diakité was a sign of the level of player the club were considering after promotion to the Championship. A deal worth several million euros would have represented one of the biggest transfers in City's history.

What comes next?

Reims may now be publicly inviting offers, but there is currently nothing to suggest Lincoln are preparing to return to the negotiating table. Diakité's future remains uncertain, but it is clear that he is not part of Reims' plans for the coming campaign.

Diakité spent the 2025/26 season on loan with Cercle Brugge, scoring seven times in the Belgian top flight. His performances attracted attention from elsewhere in the country, with Belgium reportedly remaining his preferred destination. He joined Reims from the Red Bull system after previously representing FC Liefering, where he scored 12 goals in 35 appearances. Diakité has since made more than 50 appearances for the French club, scoring nine times. The forward is also a regular Ivory Coast international and was part of the squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024. He scored the extra-time winner against Mali in the quarter-finals before Ivory Coast went on to lift the trophy.

Lincoln's reported interest was a sign of the level of player the club were considering after promotion to the Championship. A deal worth several million euros would have represented one of the biggest transfers in City's history. However, Diakité's reported preference for Belgium always made a move to the Imps unlikely. Reims may now be publicly inviting offers, but there is currently nothing to suggest Lincoln are preparing to return to the negotiating table.