Arsenal are set to miss out on Ousmane Diomande with Sporting Clube de Portugal set to snap up the promising young defender.
That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who claims that Sporting are set to finalise a deal for Diomande.
The Midtjylland talent is set for a medical with Sporting and there are no issues anticipated ahead of the transfer deadline.
It’s stated that Diomande will cost around €7.5million (£6.6million) but the deal could go up to €12.5million (£11million) with add-ons.
Midtjylland will hold a 20% sell-on clause too with Sporting now set to land a coup ahead of Arsenal.
Mais Futebol and CNN Portugal reporter Bruno Andrade reported earlier this month that Arsenal wanted to sign Diomande.
Sporting had only offered £4.4million at that stage but now have a deal done – and Arsenal may be left cursing Tottenham…
Pedro Porro to Tottenham may have taken Ousmane Diomande away from Arsenal
Sporting have been able to increase their offer exponentially in order to secure Diomande.
The reason for that increase? Well, Sporting have quite the cash windfall coming in this week.
AS report that Sporting wing back Pedro Porro is set to join Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth around €50million (£44million).
Tottenham will be paying that fee in instalments but it’s still a major financial boost for Sporting and allows them to structure a deal for a top talent like Diomande.
The hope is that Diomande can become a star for Sporting and end up making them a huge profit too.
Diomande, 18, has been on loan in Portugal this season with second-tier side CD Mafra and Sporting have been hugely impressed.
Hailed as a ‘fast player’ and ‘very aggressive’ by Mafra boss Ricardo Sousa, Diomande has been showing huge potential and put himself on Arsenal’s radar.
The Gunners won’t be signing Diomande right now, but will surely keep tabs on the defender’s development in Lisbon.
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