Chelsea reportedly dispatched scouts to watch 20-year-old Ivory Coast international Ousmane Diomande in action for Sporting CP last weekend.
According to a report by Graeme Bailey on HITC, Ousmane Diomande is the subject of interest from Chelsea. The Blues are keen on signing a centre-back in the summer transfer window amid uncertainties surrounding the future of Thiago Silva. And they sent scouts to watch the 20-year-old in action for Sporting CP this past weekend.
The Rise and Rise of Ousmane Diomande
Ousmane Diomande has become one of the most highly sought-after defenders in the world in the last 12 months. The Ivory Coast international spent most of his formative years in his homeland before arriving in Europe in January 2022. He took little time to rise in prominence, and Sporting CP snapped him up in January 2023.
The 20-year-old has come leaps and bounds in the last 12 months, especially thus far in the 2023/24 season. He has turned out 27 times in the ongoing campaign, chipping in with two goals and one assist. Meanwhile, Diomande’s progress at Sporting CP has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs.
Premier League bigwigs, in particular, are keen on securing Diomande’s services in the summer transfer window. Arsenal and Newcastle United have previously sent scouts to watch the young centre-back in action. But his next destination might be Chelsea.
Chelsea in Race to Sign Diomande
Chelsea’s interest in Ousmane Diomande is understandable. The West London club will likely part ways with Thiago Silva in the summer transfer window, with the veteran Brazilian defender entering the final six months of his contract. So, it behoves Chelsea to delve into the market for a young centre-back.
Several candidates have thus emerged on Chelsea’s radar, with Diomande being a viable target. And the Blues are stepping up their efforts to sign the 20-year-old, who recently won the Africa Cup of Nations with his country, by dispatching scouts to watch him in action for Sporting CP this past weekend.
Diomande produced a dominant performance as Sporting CP beat FC Arouca 3-0 on Sunday. So, the scouts at the game might have produced glowing reports on the AFCON winner. It will be interesting to see if he lands at Chelsea in the summer transfer window.
