Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing 20-year-old Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP.
According to a report from Portuguese publication Record via Sport Witness, Arsenal remain keen on signing Ousmane Diomande who earns €1 million per season. The Ivory Coast international recently helped his country win the Africa Cup of Nations, and he could prove to be a quality long-term acquisition for Arsenal.
The 20-year-old is highly rated across Europe, and he has a bright future ahead of himself. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal can get the deal done. They have one of the strongest defensive units in the country. But they need to improve further If they want to win major trophies and match up to the European elite every season.
Diomande has the potential to develop into a world-class player, and it remains to be seen whether Arsenal can get the deal done. He has an €80 million release clause in his contract, and Arsenal certainly have the financial muscle to pay up.
However, the North Londoners will want to sign him for a more reasonable amount of money. Even though he is a prodigious young talent with a bright future, he has done nothing to justify the price tag. It remains to be seen how the situation develops. The youngster is on the radar of Manchester City as well.
Can Arsenal spend €80 million on Diomande?
Arsenal will have to improve the other areas of their squad as well. The Gunners should look to bring in a quality striker and another central midfielder as well. Spending €80 million on another central defender might not make sense for them. It remains to be seen how the situation develops.
Meanwhile, the 20-year-old defender will feel that he has shown his quality in Portugal and needs a new challenge. A move to the Premier League will certainly be quite exciting for him, and he would get to test himself against world-class attackers in English football.
It will be interesting to see whether Arsenal are prepared to provide him with an exit route in the coming months. It is unlikely to be a cheap acquisition, and the Gunners will have to break the bank for him.
