London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea set to battle it out for talented Sporting CP defender

London giants Arsenal and Chelsea are gearing up to go toe-to-toe in a race to sign talented defender Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP.

This is as per reports from Football Insider (via SportsMole), which also add that the two clubs are preparing to send scouts to watch Diomande in action for Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Twenty-year-old Diomande came through the ranks at FC Midtjylland before earning a move to Sporting in 2022 for a fee in the region of €7.5 million. Since joining, he has made 38 appearances for the club across competitions and has even chipped in with three goals and one assist.

The Ivorian is adept with playing out from the back, helping his teammates work their way out of tight spots and into attacking transitions. Blessed with a 6-foot-3 frame, Diomande is strong and also had great positional awareness.

He is also good at passing the ball, recoveries and also making tackles. Diomande can play as a left back, or on either side of central defence. This skillset is of immense value to both Arsenal and Chelsea.

The Gunners have been over-reliant on centre-back pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in the last two seasons. While the arrival of Jurrien Timber from Ajax was to offset the pair’s workload, injury to the Dutchman has seen them start in every game they are fit and available for.

Benjamin White, Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu can all play centrally when needed, but already are in the rotation for the fullback spots. This opens the door for the club to sign a defender to add to their squad depth.

The Blues, on the other hand, will be planning for the future with age catching up to Thiago Silva (39). Additionally, defenders Malang Sarr and Benoit Badiashile have been unable to adjust well to life in west London, prompting Mauricio Pochettino to request for a new central defender.

Diomande’s arrival could also help cover for the departure of Ian Maatsen, who recently joined Borussia Dortmund on loan until the end of the current season.

Considering the player’s participation in the AFCON, though, a January move looks unlikely.

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