Arsenal and Chelsea have been scouting Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande but according to the latest reports, Real Madrid are now interested in signing him.
Madrid have lost Alaba and Eder Militao to long-term injuries which is why Carlo Ancelotti wants to bring in a new central defender for the second half of the season. Chelsea and Arsenal are also in need of defensive reinforcements but if Madrid wish to sign Ousmane Diomande, the two Premier League sides will have to sweat it out to be able to leapfrog over the Los Blancos.
Ousmane Diomande joined Sporting CP in January 2023 and since then, he’s played constantly for the first team. This season, he has a rating of 7.26 out of 10 from 15 league games.
Diomande’s contract expires in 2027 and as per reports, Sporting want around £70 million for him and that’s something Arsenal will find very hard to pay.
Mikel Arteta has already stressed that the Gunners might not be able to bring in any new players in January and because their full focus is currently on signing a new striker, Arteta will first want to strengthen that department because going after a central defender.
Chelsea and Real Madrid, however, can afford to pay £70 million but it will be a big risk to spend so much money on someone who’s had just one good season. Both these teams are also looking at other targets, namely Todibo being on Chelsea’s wishlist while Ancelotti has asked Perez to look into Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.
Like Arsenal, the Blues have also made signing a striker their priority for January but they won’t mind signing a centre-back as well because funding won’t be a problem for them.
Poch recently said when asked if Chelsea have to sell players to buy new ones: “No, it is not like this. Like you know, too many rumours going around the clubs. It is not what they translate to me. It is not necessary to sell to buy some players.”
Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea aren’t the only clubs who wish to sign Ousmane Diomande because Liverpool and Newcastle United are also being linked with the 20-year-old central defender.
