The Gunners are interested in the Ivorian defender who had his breakout season last season in Portugal, according to the report from Record, and it appears that Europe’s elite clubs are circling for his signing.
According to the source, Sporting had previously asked that Arsenal pay the 19-year-old’s release clause in full or the defender would stay in Portugal, despite Arsenal’s interest.
For a defender who just made his professional debut last season, the release clause is thought to be in the neighborhood of £70 million, which is a hefty sum. Record’s report claims that Diomande is currently “agitating the market” and that Arsenal has once more expressed interest in the defender.
The same newspaper claimed a few weeks ago that Juventus and the Gunners had made approaches for the Ivorian defender.
Sporting might be forced to act by “tempting offers”
Sporting may be ‘tempted’ to take less, according to the Portuguese report from Record, despite their earlier apparent insistence that they would have to pay the full release clause to entice the young defender.
The reason Sporting might suddenly be willing to sell for a little less than his release clause is not explained in the story. Due to Arsenal’s or any other European powerhouse’s financial clout, one would assume that Sporting would consider accepting a £50–60 million bid for the 19-year-old.
Fascinatingly, according to FBREF, Jurrien Timber, a new addition for Arsenal, is the athlete that most closely resembles Diomande in terms of traits.
Any major European team would be interested in Diomande’s great technical ability and style of the modern defender, but given that the Gunners only recently finalized the signing of Timber, the transfer now appears doubtful.