Mikel Arteta copies Chelsea plan to sign £69m defender as bold Arsenal transfer claim made
Mikel Arteta will be determined to extend Arsenal’s winning streak when they face Manchester City this weekend. Pep Guardiola will host the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon as either side hopes to gain an advantage in the Premier League title race.
Arsenal have won each of their last eight games in the English top flight, overtaking Liverpool to claim top spot. But only a seven-goal difference separates the two clubs, while Manchester City sit third and trail by just one point.
In other news, the summer transfer window is fast approaching and there’s plenty of life in the rumour mill. The north Londoners continue to be heavily linked with some big names but, as the Premier League continue to clamp down on those who breach their spending rules, the Edu may think twice before splashing the cash.
With that being said, football.london has taken a look at some of the biggest Arsenal stories on Tuesday, March 26.
Arsenal bid ‘ready’
Arsenal have taken a huge step forward in the race to sign Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP. The 20-year-old defender has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League recently as he continues to impress in the Portuguese top flight.
Diomande, who sees his contract at the José Alvalade Stadium expire in 2027, has featured 19 times in the Primeira Liga this season, helping Ruben Amorim’s side keep six clean sheets. His impressive performances have helped Sporting climb to the top of the league as they close down on a 20th title.
The Ivory Coast international also played a crucial role in his nation’s success at AFCON 2024. According to Record, Chelsea once led the race to sign Diomande, who has a €80million (£68.6m) release clause in his contract.
The Portuguese publication states that the Blues are currently preparing an opening offer worth €60m (£51.5m), with the remaining €20m (£17.1m) to be paid in add-ons. However, Record adds Arsenal are now ready to make a similar offer for the defender, with Mikel Arteta said to be a big admirer.
