Arsenal is rumored to have sent scouts to observe Sporting Lisbon defensive virtuoso Ousmane Diomande play for the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Diomande, a 20-year-old center back, has long been linked to the Gunners, but it looks like they are stepping up their efforts to sign him.
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Diomande only made his senior international debut in September of last year, but he already started two group games to help the Ivory Coast advance to the home tournament’s round of 16, where they will face the defending champion Senegal.
Portuguese outlet A BOLA claim that Arsenal are among a number of clubs scouting Diomande at AFCON.
The former young player from Midtjylland started the Ivory Coast’s victories against Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria, increasing his total of six caps.
He has been in excellent form at the club level this season, and at halfway through the campaign, Sporting is leading the Portuguese top division.
Diomande – who was part of the Sporting side which knocked Arsenal out of last season’s Europa League – is currently valued at €40m (£34.1m) by Transfermarkt. However, it is thought that it would take at least double that amount to lure him away this month.
Whether Sporting would lower their asking price in the summer remains to be seen, but they ought to find themselves in a strong negotiating condition given that Diomande has a contract until the end of the 2026/27 season.
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