Arsenal and Chelsea Battle for Ousmane Diomande
Arsenal and Chelsea are currently in talks to sign Sporting CP’s promising young center-back, Ousmane Diomande. The 20-year-old was brought to Sporting from FC Midtjylland in a €12.5 million deal 14 months ago and has quickly made a name for himself in Portugal. With an impressive performance record, Diomande has attracted interest from top clubs like Liverpool, Newcastle United, and Bayern Munich.
Sporting faces a challenge in keeping their star striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has been in top form this season with 36 goals in 39 appearances. Chelsea had a £73 million offer for the Sweden international rejected in the January transfer window, as Sporting is holding out for a fee closer to Gyokeres’ €100 million release clause.
Despite facing tough competition from Chelsea, Arsenal has shown determination to secure Diomande’s signature by matching the Blues’ €60 million bid. The Gunners had previously made a €35 million offer for the defender last summer, which was turned down by Sporting. Diomande has already faced Premier League opposition, including Arsenal, in Europa League ties last season, showcasing his potential on the big stage.
As negotiations continue between the clubs and the player, the future of Ousmane Diomande remains uncertain. With both Arsenal and Chelsea vying for his services, it will be interesting to see where the talented defender ends up next season. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing transfer saga.