**Chelsea face MLS side LAFC in their first group game of the Club World Cup later this month.**
Enzo Maresca’s side lifted the Europa Conference League in their last outing, becoming the first club to win all three UEFA club competitions.
The Blues also won the Club World Cup in 2021, although the competition has since been revamped and expanded to include 32 teams.
Off the pitch, Chelsea have already added midfielder Dario Essugo and striker Liam Delap to Maresca’s squad, and it appears that the West London side are now eyeing a new defender.
As per [CaughtOffside](https://www.caughtoffside.com/2025/06/07/ousmane-diomande-transfer-arsenal-chelsea-palace/), both Chelsea and rivals Arsenal are interested in Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande.
The centre-back has been in fine form for Sporting over the past few seasons, and his form is said to have attracted interest from two of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
The 21-year-old featured 41 times for Sporting last term, taking his tally of appearances for the club to 101 across all competitions.
Diomande joined Sporting from Danish side FC Midtjylland back in the summer of 2023.
As well as the Blues and the Gunners, fellow English sides Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are also said to be keen on the defender, while German champions Bayern Munich are also credited with an interest.
Diomande won’t come cheap, though, with the report claiming that Sporting are likely to stand firm on their £67 million valuation of the player.
The Ivory Coast international is under contract in the Portuguese capital until the end of the 2026/27 campaign, but it appears that clubs could attempt to lure the centre-back away from his current side during this summer’s transfer window.