Premier League club Arsenal have identified Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande as one of the top priorities for the summer transfer window. The club are leading the race and might launch a move in the coming months, according to SportWitness.
Ousmane Diomande has been impressive for Sporting CP
After spending his early days at Midtjylland, Ousmane Diomande signed for Sporting CP in the previous winter window for a fee of €7.5 million. Immediately, he earned the faith of the management and emerged as a reliable name on the team sheet.
The 20-year-old has already featured in 34 games this season and has contributed three goals and an assist. He is averaging 1.4 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, and 1.5 clearances per game. Sporting CP are the hot favourites to lift the domestic title and the youngster has played a vital role in their success (stats via whoscored).
Diomande operates as a centre-back and has great tackling technique. He is comfortable on the ball and his accurate passing allows the side to build from the back. However, he needs to work on winning aerial duels, which is also an important feature for a defender.
Will Arsenal break the bank?
Arsenal’s alleged interest in Ousmane Diomande is understandable as they need to bring a quality long-term partner for William Saliba. The youngster has all the tools to succeed in the top-tier leagues and turn into a world-class centre-back. He is likely to improve with proper guidance and more games under his belt.
It will be interesting to see if the Gunners will launch an official move or not. They will have to trigger the €80 million release clause to lure away the hot property. However, they aren’t alone in the race as Chelsea and Bayern Munich have also registered their interest.
From the player’s point of view, it would be hard to turn down Arsenal’s proposal. His move to England will help him lift his career and transform himself into a better footballer.
