Arsenal And Chelsea Want To Sign £60m Defender Ruben Amorim Described As “Very Physically Strong”

Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Sporting CP centre-back Ousmane Diomande this summer. 

The Gunners’ priority this summer will be signing a striker, with Benjamin Sesko expected to be their main target at the position. However, they are also likely to sign a central midfielder and a winger to bolster their squad.

Mikel Arteta could also be tempted to bring in more defensive reinforcements as the Gunners have a distinct lack of depth behind William Saliba and Gabriel at centre-back, and they have now reportedly targeted an Ivorian defender.

According to a report by Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, both Arsenal and Chelsea are keen to sign Sporting CP centre-back Ousmane Diomande, who has become one of the Portuguese side’s best players this season.

Diomande, 21, made 46 appearances last season for Sporting, scoring two goals and contributing one assist. He helped them to the league title this season despite losing their manager Ruben Amorim early in the year.

Speaking of Amorim, he was full of praise for Diomande when at Sporting as it was his decision to sign the Ivorian defender. Amorim told Portuguese media quoted in the Chronicle Live: “Diomande plays with both feet, and is very physically strong.

He is a very talented player and most people don’t know how many clubs were after him…Diomande is fast and I wanted a strong player for duels and with the ability to have the ball…”

Arsenal face Premier League competition to sign Diomande

The Gunners aren’t the only Premier League team that are keen on the 21-year-old. As previously mentioned Chelsea are keen on him as a potential alternative target to Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.

Furthermore, reports in the Portuguese media have said that Palace themselves are also keen to sign Diomande, potentially indicating that they pre-empt a sale of Guehi this summer.

Ruben Amorim himself is also said to be keen on bringing Diomande to Man United as reported by ManchesterWorld, but United’s interest isn’t understood to be as concrete as Arsenal, Chelsea and Palace’s.

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