Arsenal transfer supremo Andrea Berta has sent the club's chief scout to watch Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande in person, according to Record.
The Gunners are set to be busy in the upcoming summer window as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster the squad following another trophyless campaign in which the team reached the Champions League semi-finals, and are on course to finish as Premier League runners-up for a third consecutive season.
Attacking reinforcements are believed to be the top priority but Arsenal are also looking to add to their defence with some departures also expected, and Diomande has now emerged as a target.
Arsenal Watch Diomande in Person
Ivorian has an €80m release clause
ousmane-diomande-sporting
While Arsenal are considered to be among the frontrunners to sign Bournemouth sensation Dean Huijsen this summer, they face big competition from the likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid for the Spaniard.
That has left the club also making contingency plans for alternative targets, and Sporting star Diomande has emerged as player that Berta is keen on pursuing. So much so that the head of recruitment James Ellis sent a host of scouts to Lisbon to watch him in person during the derby game against Benfica this past weekend.
Diomande, who has been described as an 'absolute freak' by analyst Jack Fawcett, started in the middle of a back three as the teams battled to a 1-1 draw, with the teams level on points at the top of the table with just one game remaining.
Ousmane Diomande Stats 2024/25
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The 21-year-old has shown great form this season and has a £67m release clause in his contract with Sporting, but Arsenal would be confident in securing a deal for less than that, although it would still take big money to convince Sporting to part with another star.
The expectation is that star striker Viktor Gyokeres will leave the club this summer, with Arsenal said to be at the front of the queue for his signature having made an official offer already and agreed personal terms with the Sweden star.
It now seems that his Sporting teammate could join him should the Gunners miss out on their prime defensive target in Huijsen.
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All statistics courtesy of WhoScored - correct as of 14/05/2025.
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