Arsenal are reportedly keeping tabs on Sporting defender Ousmane Diomande.
According to journalist Dean Jones, speaking to GiveMeSport, Arsenal are considering a move for Ousmane Diomande. Jones said, “he is definitely somebody that they’ve got an eye on for now.”
It is unsurprising that Diomande is generating interest and attention. The 19-year-old centre-back has been in fine form for the Portuguese outfit so far this season.
The 6’3” teenager has been a mainstay for Sporting so far this season, and the club are yet to lose a game in the Liga Portugal. Sporting are currently top of the table, and Diomande has been at the heart of their success so far.
Diomande has been hailed for having “immense potential” by a former teammate, and looks to have recently taken a huge step forward in his game. Whether he is now ready to make the step up to Premier League level, though, remains to be seen.
Diomande could feed Arteta defensive transfer habit
Mikel Arteta may be tempted to take a punt on the once-capped Ivory Coast international. He has previously gambled on promising youngsters flourishing in the Portuguese top flight, as he paid £34 million to bring Fabio Vieira to the Emirates Stadium, for example.
Arteta has signed many defenders since his appointment as Arsenal boss in 2019. Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jakub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Pablo Mari, Nuno Tavares, Aston Trusty, and Cedric Soares has all been brought to the club on the Spanish coach’s watch.
It is an area of his squad that he is constantly seeking to improve. Based on this, Arteta won’t hesitate to bring Diomande to the club, even in the face of all this competition for places, if he believes the youngster can become an upgrade for his squad.
If Diomande continues to impress, it might not be long before Arteta can no longer resist the urge to add to his defensive ranks once again.
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