Arsenal had submitted a €35 million offer for Ousmane Diomande, but Sporting CP have no interest in selling him, with West Ham also keen.
According to Record via Sport Witness, Arsenal had submitted a €35 million offer to sign Ousmane Diomande, but Sporting CP are in no rush to sell the defender. West Ham United also admires the 19-year-old prodigy, but overall, the transfer looks a lot more complex in the immediate future.
Portuguese clubs are known as selling clubs and for driving up valuations of raw talents. In recent years, those sides have consistently acquired young talents and developed them into bonafide stars.
Sporting CP, in particular, have done impressive business selling some of their developed stars and consistently replacing those with new arrivals. A prime example is the deal for 19-year-old prodigy Ousmane Diomande, who they signed for a modest fee of €7.5 million plus €5 million in addons from Midtjylland.
At first, there were reservations about that price tag, but following his performances, the overall fee looks like a snippet. While Sporting managed to sneak the player away from under the noses of top sides, those big clubs certainly missed the trick with this particular transfer.
Many top clubs are already looking to sign him and are even ready to pay considerable fees. Arsenal may have wanted to sign him before Sporting finalising the move and held an interest during the summer window as Mikel Arteta looked for a new defender.
The injury to Jurrien Timber has further emphasised bringing in a new defender, and Diomande would suit their cause. As reported earlier, Arsenal had indeed made an offer to sign him, and now another report from the same outlet insisted the Gunners had offered €35 million for the 19-year-old prodigy.
Sporting CP have no interest in rushing a sale for the player, on whom they can instantly make a threefold profit if Arsenal’s offer warrants a second look. The Portuguese side are also aware of other interest, with West Ham also keen.
The Hammers have recently looked at young talents during the recent window and had been keen to bring a new defender to their ranks. However, Diomande’s price skyrocketed as Sporting could ask close to his €80 million release clause.
The Portuguese side also wants to add more years to his current deal, further cementing the €80 million release clause. Arsenal could sign him again in January or next summer; by then, his price would have gone even higher than the Gunners made an offer.
