Arsenal have now joined the race to sign ‘special’ youngster Yan Diomande

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Arsenal have sent scouts to watch RB Leipzig youngster Yan Diomande this season, Arsenal Insider understands.

Diomande has enjoyed a spectacular start to the new campaign for Leipzig, scoring twice and registering two assists in just five Bundesliga starts.

This form, combined with his impressive debut season in Europe for Leganes last term, has prompted interest from a host of top clubs, including the Gunners, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Arsenal could be in the market for a new left winger next summer, and have already identified the 18-year-old starlet as an exciting potential option.

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Arsenal join competitive race to sign Yan Diomande

Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli could leave Arsenal next summer, with both players’ current contracts expiring within the next 18 months.

Either player departing is likely to prompt the Gunners back into the market for a left-sided wide forward, and acquiring a younger player who can compete with the likes of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke in the long term makes sense.

Diomande could fit the bill. The Ivorian has taken the German top flight by storm this season, and those within the Red Bull Group reportedly believe that the winger is the greatest prospect they’ve had on their books since Erling Haaland.

Despite only starting six times in the league last season for Leganes, who were relegated to the Segunda Division, Leipzig opted to activate Diomande’s €20 million release clause.

The teenager put pen to paper on a five-year deal upon signing for the Bundesliga club, who are already potentially prepared to offer him a new contract, perhaps to fend off interest from multiple clubs.

Arsenal are among the interested parties that are tracking his progress. Transfer expert Graeme Bailey told Arsenal Insider that the Gunners are ‘one of those taking a close look’.

“Diomande is a fascinating player who is taking Europe by storm since he arrived in January,” he said.

“Arsenal are one of those taking a close look. They like what they see, but so does everyone. We are talking about a potentially very special player.”

What is Yan Diomande like as a player?

Diomande is yet to show that he can provide real value in the final third.

That said, for a player of his age, he’s above where you’d expect him to be in this aspect, with his decision-making merely needing a little bit of fine-tuning.

However, where he has already shown that he has a remarkable skill is in his dribbling. Diomande is completing 4.81 dribbles per 90 minutes for Leipzig, a value that, if sustained, would make him one of the most prolific dribblers in world football.

This attribute can be incredibly valuable if harnessed to create threat in the final third as he develops, and with several top clubs now specifically trying to source dribblers, it’s no surprise that he’s attracting attention.

Smooth when gliding with the ball and boasting a frightening initial burst of pace, he fits the aesthetic profile that will endear him to fans.

Combine this with his exceptional work rate out of possession, and Diomande has exciting raw attributes that make him worth investing in.