Mikel Arteta and Ousmane Diomande (Picture by Michael Regan, Lars Baron/Getty Photographs)
Arsenal and Chelsea are each protecting a detailed eye on Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande forward of this summer time, CaughtOffside understands.
The gifted younger Ivory Coast worldwide has lengthy been on the radar of a number of high golf equipment round Europe, and it’s presently Arsenal and Chelsea exhibiting the strongest curiosity in him.
Sources with a detailed understanding of Diomande’s state of affairs have instructed CaughtOffside that his present launch clause of €80m is seen as too excessive by the London giants.
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As a substitute, there’s a feeling that they can negotiate that all the way down to one thing extra like an preliminary €50m, with some attainable bonuses and clauses to fulfill Sporting.
Nonetheless, CaughtOffside understands Sporting are assured of their €80m stance as they imagine Diomande will doubtless produce other big-name suitors from round Europe this summer time.
Ousmane Diomande to Arsenal or Chelsea?
Diomande appears to be like like he has a giant future within the recreation, so this may very well be a vital summer time for his profession as a transfer maybe appears to be like inevitable.
Sporting are clear they’ll be no pushovers, although, so it will likely be as much as Arsenal, Chelsea or anybody else to provide you with a superb proposal.
The 21-year-old may also certainly have a giant say over his subsequent vacation spot, nonetheless, so it will likely be fascinating to see if he opts for the Emirates Stadium or Stamford Bridge.
For now, Arsenal most likely appears to be like just like the extra interesting challenge, however it’s additionally tougher to think about Diomande would begin frequently for Mikel Arteta’s facet.
Arsenal have already got William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes as their first-choice central defence, whereas the likes of Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior and Riccardo Calafiori also can fill in there.
Diomande would most likely play extra at Chelsea, the place Enzo Maresca appears to be like in want of somebody to come back in as an improve on barely inconsistent performers like Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile, whereas Wesley Fofana has additionally confirmed actually harm inclined throughout his time in west London.
