It has now been reported that Arsenal had a bid rejected for Sporting Club De Portugal star Ousmane Diomande in the summer transfer window.
Portugal outlet Record have claimed that Arsenal made an offer of around €35m (£30m) for the 19-year-old, who has an €80m (£69m) release clause.
This offer was rejected in the summer window, with Sporting believing they could fetch a higher fee for the teenage centre-back, whom Arsenal have been tracking since his days at FC Midtjylland.
The report also claims that Arsenal could return for Diomande next summer, and he is certainly a player to keep an eye on going forward.
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What could Diomande bring to Arsenal?
As one of the best defensive prospects in European football, a big-money offer from Arsenal may come as a surprise given that Mikel Arteta has William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes at his disposal, but the signing could make a lot of sense.
Standing at six foot three, Diomande would bring a huge physical presence to the back line, and whilst he is raw, having made just 21 appearances for Sporting, he could be ideal for Arteta’s system.
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He ranks highly amongst his peers for his dribbling and passing ability, and perhaps he may be able to follow the path of Ben White as a centre-back who can convert to a full-back.
In fact, FBREF has listed Jurrien Timber and David Luiz as players similar to Diomande, highlighting his strengths as a ball-playing defender, and he could be a long-term option to complete the defensive depth at the club.
If he continues to play well, interest in him will likely increase by next summer, and Arsenal will have to do their best to secure his signature.
Diomande is yet to be capped by Ivory Coast, but if he appears on the international stage, this will give him a platform to shine at a high level, and there will likely be plenty of admirers.