Arsenal could follow Viktor Gyokeres transfer with ‘brilliant’ £67m Sporting teammate
Arsenal technical director Andrea Berta has sent the Gunners’ chief scout to watch Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande in person as progress continues to be made towards the signing of Viktor Gyokeres.
The London outfit have long been linked with a transfer move for Gyokeres, who has plundered 52 goals in all competitions this season and could be the answer to Arsenal’s goalscoring problems. It now appears that in brokering that deal, Berta has spotted another player he would like at the Emirates Stadium.
Reports over the weekend suggested that Arsenal had reached a personal agreement with Gyokeres and now that all is left to do is activate the former Coventry City man’s £85 million release clause. However, that may not be the end of business with Sporting CP.
Arsenal scout Sporting CP defender
Portuguese outlet Record claims that the Arsenal head of recruitment James Ellis sent scouts to Lisbon to watch the player during the derby game against Benfica last weekend. Diomande started at the heart of a back three in that match, which finished in a 1-1 draw.
The 21-year-old is believed to have a £67 million release clause and is known for his versatility to play across the backline. On paper, Diomande is the type of player who could slot into Arteta’s Arsenal system seamlessly.
William Saliba has been linked with a move to Real Madrid while an injury to Gabriel in defence forced Arteta to turn to back-up Jakub Kiwior for the huge Champions League games in recent months.
ESPN picked out the defender as one of the future stars in the Sporting CP squad last year and spelt out just why the Ivory Coast international has a huge future ahead of him. The outlet wrote: “The commanding Ivory Coast international has already built a reputation as one of the world’s most promising centre-backs under 21. A mainstay in the first XI since joining Sporting two years ago, Diomande can be featured anywhere across a back three, though he generally prefers the middle to allow for more attacking liberty.
“Despite being a robust, aerially dominant defender, the 6-foot-3 Diomande is at his best when he can carry the ball out of defence or burst forward. In those situations, he uses his powerful physique and long strides to maximum effect as he plows through opposing lines.”
The article does admit that there are some areas for improvement with the player sometimes ‘too casual’, his performance in the 5-1 defeat to Arsenal this season singled out. The Gunners have also been linked with a move for AFC Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen but are expected to face competition for the breakthrough star.
Huijsen is one year younger than Diomande at 20 years old, with rumours continuing to point to Berta being keen to invest in a future star defender rather than a finished product. Arteta has had joy seeing young Myles Lewis-Skelly become a first team star this season and is unlikely to be put off by the need to coach a less developed player.
In other news, Arsenal and Chelsea ‘ready to advance’ but Fabrizio Romano reveals transfer takes new twist.
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