In a recent report, Record mentioned that Arsenal are showing interest in Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande this summer. It has been claimed that the Gunners are eyeing a move to bring the Ivory Coast youngster to North London ahead of the new campaign.
Diomande’s Impressive Form At The Estádio José Alvalade Last Season
Diomande joined the Portuguese giants from FC Midtjylland back in January and has since managed to put in a run of solid displays at the centre of Sporting’s backline. The 19-year-old has already made 17 senior appearances for the Portuguese side so far, scoring one goal on all fronts.
The talented teenager was a rock at the back and did well to average 1.7 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 1.7 clearances per 90 minutes in Liga Portugal. He was even tidy when distributing possession from the back, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 90.7% in league football (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Estádio José Alvalade is set to run out in the summer of 2027. Thus, it won’t be easy for the Gunners to land him on the cheap in this ongoing transfer window.
Arsenal Are Showing Interest In Diomande: Is He A Prospect For The Future?
Diomande is a solid tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to earn the ball back for his team on the defensive third of the field. He usually doesn’t hesitate to clear his lines when needed and can even play his way out from the back.
Standing at 1.90m, the Ivory Coast whizkid can use his strong frame to win his fair share of 50-50 aerial duels inside his half. However, he is still quite raw and would need time to prove his worth at the highest level.
We can expect Diomande to add more bite and steel to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta‘s defence. He is already good enough to serve as an important member of the North London club‘s squad.
At 19, the future looks quite promising for Diomande, so Arteta will do well to lure him to the Emirates Stadium in this off-season. He is undoubtedly a prospect to watch out for in the coming seasons and would be a great, long-term signing for the Gunners this summer.
