Arsenal could be in the market for a new central defender in the summer with Ben White and Jakub Kiwior both being used as full-backs – and an African Cup of Nations star is firmly on the shortlist.
In a title race and sitting top of the Premier League, Mikel Arteta will know that come the summer – whether Arsenal win the League or fall in the final hurdles, the club will need to make more signings.
Standing still often backfires even if the squad is nearly perfect. The Gunners look well-stocked all over the pitch but it only takes a couple of players to leave in the summer, and then work needs to be done.
With White the first-choice right-back over Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Kiwior over Oleksandr Zinchenko, it has left Arsenal somewhat sparce in the middle of the defence behind duo Gabriel and William Saliba.
Arsenal need a new centre-back this summer, have tabled bid
Tomiyasu is more of a right-back and regularly injured. Similarly, Jurrien Timber has been out for almost the entire campaign. Declan Rice can play there, but is thriving in the middle of the park for Arsenal.
A new centre-back could be required, then. One name that has cropped up is that of in-form Sporting Lisbon star Ousmane Diomande. The “strong” star has been excellent for the Portuguese leaders.
He has played 29 games this season – after joining Sporting in January 2023 as an unkown. It would have been more, but he missed nine game due to repsenting the Ivory Coast at The African Cup of Nations.
After the African Cup of Nations, in which 20-year-old Diomande had helped his country win, it was claimed Arsenal had been scouting the centre-back at the tournament. He is keen on a move to Arsenal.
Arsenal already bid for Diomande – what is the right price?
Alfredo Pedulla says Arsenal are not the only ones looking at Diomande, with Napoli keen to bring in a replacement for Kim Min-jae. The South Korean has left a big hole after leaving last summer for Bayern.
Diomande could be that man – but Arsenal are kee too. Pedulla says Arsenal have even made a bid for the African defender – but the £30m offer was cosnsidered ‘derisory’. Arsenal’s attempt at a bargain signing.
Indeed, Sporting were not happy with bid according to Pedulla, with Diomande’s release clause a huge £68m. Middle ground needs to be found. What is a fair price for the talent – who is shining at just 20?
Well, a full interntional and a player on course to win the Portuguese League. But still largely unproven, especially in Europe’s top-five leagues. Not the finished article. Around about £50m would be fair enough.
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