Arsenal are reportedly set to face stiff competition from Leicester City and West Ham United in the race to sign Amadou Diawara.
According to a report by The Sun, Amadou Diawara is the subject of interest from Leicester City and West Ham United. The Premier League duo have joined Arsenal in the race to sign the 23-year-old from AS Roma, who value him at around £15 million.
Diawara joined AS Roma from Napoli in the summer of 2019 and has since been in and out of the starting lineup over the past 15 months or so. Last season, his progress was hampered by a couple of niggling injuries that meant he managed 31 appearances across all competitions.
In 2020/21, though, Diawara seems to have fallen down the pecking order for midfielders at Roma, having started just 4 of the 17 games that the Giallorossi have played this term, although he missed seven of those after testing positive for the coronavirus. However, the player’s stock remains high, with Arsenal and other Premier League clubs in his pursuit.
Arsenal’s interest in Diawara is quite intriguing to say the least, considering they already have plenty of defensive-minded players at the club. Having said that, Granit Xhaka’s future at the north London club is uncertain at present, and a possible sale could open up a spot in the middle of the park at the Emirates.
His performance against Burnley this past weekend might have worsened Xhaka’s predicament as well and it seems as if Arsenal might need to sign a defensive midfielder soon. The Gunners, though, face stiff competition from fellow Premier League clubs Leicester City and West Ham United in the race to sign the 23-year-old.
Leicester’s interest in the player is quite perplexing, seeing as Brendan Rodgers has solid holding midfielders in Wilfred Ndidi and Nampalys Mendy at his disposal. As for West Ham, they might have to sign a defensive midfielder as cover for Declan Rice, whose own future is uncertain, with Chelsea hot on his trails.
Roma are ready to cash in on Diawara in the January transfer window as well, having slapped a £15 million price tag on him. The valuation might end up being appealing for Arsenal, who are likely to look for economical options, while Leicester and West Ham might fancy their chances as well.
What now remains to be seen is if the Premier League trio do make a move for Diawara this winter and if they are prepared to meet his £15 million valuation. For now, what appears to be certain is that Arsenal, who were linked with him in the summer, now face stiff competition competition from Leicester and West Ham in his pursuit.
