Arsenal have matched Chelsea’s €60 million offer for the services of 20-year-old Sporting CP defensive sensation Ousmane Diomande.
According to a report by The Sun, Arsenal and Chelsea are keen on acquiring the services of Ousmane Diomande. The 20-year-old Sporting CP defender has made quite a name for himself and top clubs from across Europe are looking to add him to their ranks.
Arsenal and Chelsea both want to bolster their defence, and the 20-year-old Ivorian centre-back is quite high on their list of targets. The Blues were leading the race after having already submitted an offer worth €60 million plus bonuses. But, the Gunners are right back in it as they have matched their rival’s bid.
After coming up the ranks at the Ivorian club OS Abobo, Diomande joined the FC Midtjylland in the winter of 2022. He was promoted to their first team in the following summer but never featured for the Danish club. The 20-year-old spent a season out on loan at Portuguese outfit Mafra. And, on the back of his performances, Sporting CP signed him in in the winter of 2023.
He has established himself as a mainstay in the Portuguese club in no time. The 20-year-old centre-back has done wonders for Ruben Amorim’s team. In the ongoing season, he has featured in 29 matches and has been a rock in the heart of the defence.
Chelsea and Arsenal both keen on Diomande
Diomande’s performances have resulted in a lot of interest from across Europe. Chelsea and Arsenal are two clubs keen on having him in their ranks. The Blues have been focused on signing young players with huge prospects and with Thiago Silva likely to leave at the end of the season, they are looking for another big defensive signing.
Diomande has been on their radar for a while, and they took the lead in the pursuit by putting forward an offer worth €60 million plus bonuses. But, Arsenal have no intentions of losing out on the 20-year-old, and they have matched the bid.
The Gunners have been keeping tabs on him since 2022, and they feel he could be a great addition to their ranks. While Mikel Arteta’s team have been doing great of late, the Arsenal manager is always looking for ways to further improve his team.
He feels the need for defensive reinforcement and feels Diomande can help them take the next step. While both clubs have tabled an offer of €60 million, Sporting value him at €80 million, and they are in no rush to sell him with his contract running until 2027. As a result, there is still a lot of work to be done to sign the Ivorian defensive sensation.
