There have been reports that both Chelsea and Arsenal have dispatched scouts to observe the performance of Ousmane Diomande, a defender for Sporting CP, while he is representing Ivory Coast at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 20-year-old player, before being substituted by Nottingham Forest defender Willy Boly, showcased his skills for 77 minutes during Ivory Coast’s 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau on the opening night of the tournament, held on that occasion.
FootballTransfers has brought to light Chelsea’s keen interest in signing Diomande during the upcoming summer transfer window. Diomande is highly regarded as one of the most promising young talents currently active in Portugal. However, Arsenal is also eyeing Diomande, viewing him as a potential contender for their primary center-back partnership, comprising Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.
Both Chelsea and Arsenal have decided to dispatch scouts to the African Cup of Nations to closely monitor Diomande’s performance for his national team, as reported by the Portuguese publication record obtained by CaughtOffside.
Despite possessing a release clause of €80 million in his contract with Sporting CP, Diomande’s estimated transfer value (ETV) stands at only €13.4 million, according to FootballTransfers’ proprietary algorithm, largely due to his limited experience of just 55 senior games throughout his career.
Diomande’s pivotal contribution to Ivory Coast’s clean sheet in the initial game of this year’s AFCON would undoubtedly please both Chelsea and Arsenal, regardless of the match outcome. However, both clubs are aware of potential challenges that may arise if Diomande opts to depart Sporting Football Club.
Chelsea boasts a wealth of options at the center-back position, including Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, and Wesley Fofana, along with promising academy graduates like Bashir Humphreys and Alfie Gilchrist, specialized in central defense.
For Arsenal, Diomande would likely find himself behind Saliba and Gabriel in the pecking order, making it challenging for him to secure regular playing time.
