Arsenal sends scouts to watch £52m player with Mikel Arteta now very interested

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After a difficult few weeks, a lot of Arsenal fans are now desperate for Mikel Arteta to make haste of the January transfer window.

As well as looking short of a ruthless number nine, Arsenal are also struggling for numbers at the back.

Oleksandr Zinchenko’s performances have been causing concern, and his absence against Fulham on Sunday proved even more costly.

Arsenal’s squad now has a very solid foundation, but still looks one or two players short of a title win.

And with that in mind, it seems that Arsenal will be busy in January, with one of Arteta’s targets now being scouted heavily.

Ousmane Diomande is a centre-back that Arteta is thought to love, a 20-year-old with all the potential in the world.

And ahead of AFCON, Portuguese outlet Record have now shared that Arsenal will have scouts at the tournament to watch the centre-back.

Diomande will represent Ivory Coast at the tournament and Arteta’s men will be keeping close watch.

According to this report, Arsenal will now intensify their efforts to sign £52m Diomande, although it is likely to be a transfer that waits until the summer.

Mikel Arteta will intensify Arsenal’s scouting of Ousmane Diomande in January

Of course, that begs the question of what Arsenal will do in this current window.

Arteta is thought to want a defensive solution on a short-term basis, someone who can strengthen the squad but not disrupt its harmony.

And as many will think, that is a profile that may prove extremely difficult to find on loan in January.

Cedric Soares may protest that he fits that role, yet he now seems to be a face of Arsenal’s past despite his lofty wage.

There’s clearly a lot on the agenda for Arteta and Edu in January, a window that may define this year’s title push.

Should Arsenal find that defensive profile and add goals to their team, all whilst adhering to their FFP restrictions, it would be a strong window indeed.

One that would allow Arsenal to pursue an audacious move for Diomande come the summer.

And in the mean time, it may be a good idea for Mikel Arteta to recall one £25m loanee in January.