In a recent report, O Jogo (via Sport Witness) stated that Arsenal are keeping a keen eye on Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande. It has been claimed that the Gunners are eager to acquire the services of the Ivory Coast centre-back this summer.
Diomande’s Impressive Form In Portuguese Football This Season
Diomande is having a solid campaign at the Portuguese club as he has put in a string of dominant performances for them on the defensive end of the field. The 20-year-old has scored three goals and grabbed one assist in 37 matches for Sporting CP this season on all fronts.
The Ivory Coast talent has been a decent performer when defending inside his half based on his average of 1.5 tackles, 0.5 interceptions and 1.4 clearances per game in Liga Portugal. He has also been tidy when distributing possession from the back after completing 91.8% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Portuguese club will run out in the summer of 2027 which could make it tough for the Gunners to pursue at the end of this campaign.
Is Diomande A Decent Choice For Arsenal Boss Mikel Arteta?
Diomande is a solid tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to earn the ball back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when the opposition are on the front foot. Standing at 1.90m, the Ivory Coast talent can use his strong frame to win a few 50-50 aerial duels for his team. He is even proficient at playing his way out from inside his half.
At the moment, Diomande is playing at a high level. However, only time will tell whether he can adapt to the high intensity of Premier League football. At 20, the Ivory Coast sensation has the potential to be a future star in European football. Hence, Arsenal would do well to get him on board in the upcoming transfer window.
Diomande would add more bite and steel to Mikel Arteta‘s defence and could help the Gunners compete across all fronts in the coming years. Therefore, he would be a great choice for the North London club to consider later this year.
