Arsenal have sent scouts to prepare 'detailed reports' on Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande during the African Cup of Nations, according to a report from A Bola via SportWitness.
The 20-year-old centre-back has caught the attention of first division club with his performances in the Portuguese league and has also been an important player for his national team.
As reported by A Bola via SportWitnessArsenal have sent scouts to watch Diomande in action for the Ivory Coast in the AFCON and the Gunners are preparing extensive reports ahead of a possible move.
The defender has a release clause of 68 million pounds (80 million euros) in his contract and Sporting CP are not willing to sanction his departure for less than that figure. A January move therefore seems unlikely, so Arsenal will have to wait until the summer to formalize their interest in him.
It's no secret that Arsenal need more depth in their central defensive unit, but the reported asking price could prove prohibitive for any potential move. The Gunners already have William SalibaJurrien Timber, Jacub Kiwior and Gabriel Magalhaes at his disposal, so you will be reluctant to spend £68m on a player who may struggle to be a regular starter.
Depth
Saliba and Gabriel are likely to be the Gunners' first-choice pairing when fit, so Diomande would be seen as a quality back-up option to use in the cups.
Diomande is certainly good enough to play for the biggest clubs in the world and has the potential to become a top player. A move to Arsenal would be an exciting step in his career and playing in the Premier League could accelerate his development.
Arteta has done well to develop talented young players at Arsenal and could help the 20-year-old develop further. It will be interesting to see if Arsenal decide to follow up their interest with a concrete proposal to sign the defender in the coming months.
