Arsenal have reportedly expressed an interest in signing 19-year-old Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande this summer.
According to Portuguese outlet Record (via Sport Witness), Arsenal have made an approach for Sporting Lisbon centre-back Ousmane Diomande, but the Portuguese outfit are planning to retain him this summer and have closed the door to any potential transfer away from the club.
After a relatively successful season, the Gunners could now look to strengthen across all areas of the pitch as they prepare for Champions League football next season. As such, they have five priorities in the summer transfer market, with technical director Edu reportedly after two midfielders, a centre-back, a right-back, and another forward.
Arteta’s favourite centre-back combination is Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, who is reportedly set to sign a new contract at the Emirates Stadium. However, they have struggled for quality cover at times this season, with Ben White being deployed at right-back in Takehiro Tomiyasu’s absence.
While Jakub Kiwior has displayed his potential towards the back end of the season, Arteta and co. want a right-footed centre-back to slot in for Saliba when the latter’s unavailable.
Sporting’s Diomande has now been added to Arsenal’s list of summer transfer targets for the right-sided centre-back position. And many Gunners’ fans would be familiar with the name, as Mikel Arteta’s side were looking to sign Diomande from Midtjylland back in January after the Ivorian wonderkid shone on loan at Portuguese second-tier side Mafra.
Arsenal explored a deal to buy Diomande and loan him to Sporting, but their requirement for a new midfielder amidst a heated title race with Manchester City meant the move was called off.
Sporting CP did end up winning the race to sign Diomande and signed him permanently for a fee of €7.5 million, tying him down to a long-term contract until 2027 and inserting an €80 million release clause in his contract.
The 19-year-old could be seen as one for the future, but he is already showing real potential with Sporting, impressing in 15 appearances since joining in January.
Since Arteta took over as Arsenal manager, the Spaniard, and Edu Gaspar have targeted young talent around the world in their recruitment. It’s certainly a strategy that’s worked so far. They may continue with their philosophy of signing younger players by landing Diomande in the near future.
Having said that, Sporting are not willing to let him go this summer and have told the same to the player’s representatives. The report says that they have him “locked” in Lisbon, and Arsenal will have activate his €80 million buy-out clause to bring him to London in the upcoming transfer window.
That’s an absolute fortune for a 19-year-old young defender who’s still relatively inexperienced at the very top level. With a summer move looking highly unlikely, maybe Arsenal can try their luck again in 2024 and negotiate a reasonable fee for their target.
