Arsenal scouting ‘very talented’ 20-year-old AFCON star already valued at £70m

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Arsenal are reportedly scouting Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, with the centre-back representing the Ivory Coast.

The competition hosts have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons over the competition with the Ivory Coast finishing their group in third place despite having one of the strongest squads at the tournament.

And one of Les Elephants star players has been Diomande, with the 20-year-old defender regarded as one of the best young centre-backs in world football and a reported target for Arsenal.

Now, according to A Bola, the Gunners, alongside the likes of Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Juventus, have been scouting Diomande at AFCON this January.

Lauded by Sporting manager Ruben Amorin as a ‘very talented’ defender, Diomande’s performances in West Africa probably haven’t caught the eye of Arsenal this month given Ivory Coast’s nightmare tournament.

Reportedly valued at £70m already, a lot of hype has been made about Diomande’s quality and his potential, yet Arsenal know they shouldn’t dig too deep into the defender’s displays this month.

Arsenal should not be dismayed by Ousmane Diomande after AFCON collapse

The Ivory Coast have been one hot steaming mess this month in a competition that some pundits predicted the African giants to go all the way and win.

Yet despite Diomande’s displays, Arsenal shouldn’t be turned off by signing the centre-back, who is still very much at the start of his career at the highest level in football.

After all, Diomande has had a meteoric rise in the last 12 months, with the defender going from a relative unknown to one of the most prized prospects in all of European football.

And for Arsenal, they should still keep a close eye on Diomande, who could be a dream long-term centre-back signing for Mikel Arteta in the years to come.