Report: Arsenal readying £20m bid for in-demand 21-year-old, he’s interested in Gunners

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Arsenal are reportedly preparing a £20million bid for Ibrahima Diallo, an in-demand box-to-box midfielder who’s said to be interested in a switch to the Emirates Stadium, according to the Daily Star.

The Gunners face a tricky summer in the transfer market as Mikel Arteta seeks to stamp his mark on the team and bolster their ranks, but on a limited budget in wake of current events.

Diallo has enjoyed an impressive maiden campaign for French Ligue 1 club Stade Brestois, making 22 appearances in all competitions, and is said to be on the radar of several sides.

The Daily Star claims that Leicester had a bid of up to £16million turned down in January and remain in the running, while Everton and Nice have also made recent enquiries.

However, the outlet says Arsenal’s biggest opponents in the race are Sevilla, who have already opened talks with Brest.

That said, the Gunners have reportedly been told that Diallo would be interested in a move to the Emirates Stadium when they first sounded out his representatives.

The outlet goes on to claim that Arsenal – who have scouted the 21-year-old several times this season – have asked to be kept informed of developments so they are ready to rival any firm offer.

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Diallo came through the ranks at Monaco but after a season-long loan at Brest in 2018-19, he was sold for a reported £1.8million last summer – that he’s now being linked with a move for 10 times that amount is testament to how far he’s come in a short period of time.

Earning comparisons with the great N’Golo Kante, Diallo is a talented box-to-box midfielder who can also operate deeper, boasts great stamina, and glides through the centre of the park while dribbling the ball – so he’d be a good fit for Arteta’s pressing tactics.