Based on File (through SportWitness), Arsenal will battle it out with Chelsea to signal Sporting Lisbon centre-back Ousmane Diomande throughout the summer season switch window.
The Gunners have been long-term admirers of the 20-year-old. They had been first involved in touchdown his signature throughout his time with Midtjylland, however Sporting received the race in January 2023.
It’s now reported by File that the London giants have knowledgeable the administrators at Sporting Lisbon that they’re ready to make an method for the Ivorian star on the finish of the marketing campaign.
Chelsea are stated to be planning a proper bid of £51.5 million plus £17 million in add-ons as a substitute of paying the participant’s £68.5 million launch clause. Arsenal at the moment are keen to supply the identical.
Large expertise
Arsenal at the moment have one of the crucial established central defensive partnerships within the Premier League. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have been the mainstays for some level of time.
This has not stopped the hypothesis over a brand new central defender and File appear to recommend that supervisor Mikel Arteta needs to usher in Diomande to the membership’s ranks throughout the summer season.
The report comes as a shock to us as Arsenal are nicely geared up within the division. They’ve Jakub Kiwior, Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu to offer defensive cowl to the duo.
A transfer for Diomande this summer season in all probability means that Kiwior may very well be leaving the membership, contemplating Timber solely joined final summer season whereas Tomiyasu has simply signed a brand new contract.
Diomande can be a unbelievable signing for the Gunners. He’s a powerful ball-playing centre-back with an aerial and bodily presence within the field. He additionally possesses tempo to make recoveries.
The Ivorian can play in the fitting and left centre-back roles as his place has continually interchanged in a again three for Sporting. Arsenal ought to have an higher hand over Chelsea within the race.
The Gunners are set to be again within the Champions League for one more marketing campaign whereas Chelsea may very well be with out European soccer. This may very well be an enormous benefit for the Gunners over the Blues.
