Arsenal are reportedly keen to sign Midtjylland defender Ousmane Diomande, who is currently on loan with Portuguese side Mafra.

That’s according to Portuguese and Brazilian football journalist Bruno Andrade, who claims that the 19-year-old centre-back is in the sights of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

It is alleged that the Gunners and Sporting Lisbon want to sign the defender from his parent club FC Midtjylland, and the Danes are demanding around €10 million (£9 million) for the Ivorian.

He is obviously a highly talented young player because Manchester City are being linked with a move to sign him as well (Daily Mail).

And it seems as though Arsenal are well in the race too…

Arsenal eyeing up Ousmane Diomande swoop

Bruno Andrade took to Twitter to claim that Arsenal have the 19-year-old defender in their sights as the January transfer window winds down:

Sporting trabalha para oferecer 7 M€ + 1.5 M€ por Ousmane Diomandé. Midtjylland ainda insiste nos 10 M€, mas as negociações continuam. Também na mira do Arsenal, jovem central costa-marfinense, de 19 anos, está emprestado ao Mafra até junho/23

— Bruno Andrade (@brunoandrd) January 24, 2023

£9 million for Diomande would actually represent good value for Arsenal in my opinion.

Goal have described him as a ‘defensive prodigy’, and they are spot on – he really is a top tier talent. At just 19, he obviously has a long way to go, and is far form the finished article.

Diomande does have the raw ingredients needed to go on and succeed at the very highest level though. He is strong in the air, tough in the challenge and has decent pace as well. The teenager actually seems to be perfectly built for the Premier League.

If Arsenal sign Ousmane Diomande for just £9 million this month, I think it will be great business for the club. It will also be further evidence of just how much emphasis Arteta is placing on bringing the very best young players in the world to the Emirates.

Incredibly exciting times indeed if you’re an Arsenal fan.

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