Arsenal have already placed a €35 million bid for Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande, according to Portuguese publication Record (page 8).
The Gunners were linked with the Ivorian centre-back at the start of 2023, but Sporting won the race to sign him from FC Midtjylland for €7m plus €5m in add-ons.
Within the space of months, the 19-year-old has become a vital player for the Portuguese outfit and he recently made his international debut for the Ivory Coast.
It is now reported that the Gunners made a €35m bid for the teenager over the summer which was turned down by Sporting. They expect more interest in the defender.
The club have already started negotiations over an improved contract beyond June 2027 for Diomande, but his €80m release clause won’t be altered with the renewal.
Meanwhile, Record claim that Diomande has no plans of considering a January exit.
Arsenal could make future move for Diomande
Diomande has made a huge impression since his move to Portugal. He initially benefited from an injury to Jerry St. Juste and has since established himself as a key starter for Sporting.
This season, he has a pass completion rate of 90 per cent in Primeira Liga. He has won 2.2 tackles per game as well as an impressive 65 per cent of his ground and aerial duels.
The youngster has also made six ball recoveries per outing. In our view, he is perfectly suited for the Premier League and we won’t be surprised if Arsenal make a renewed bid.
The Gunners are likely to wait until next summer. They could make a significant proposal above the €35m offer but less than the €80m buy-out clause on his Sporting contract.
Diomande may not be a guaranteed starter under Mikel Arteta, and he would provide the manager with additional quality and the opportunity to rotate whenever required.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com
