Arsenal plot spectacular €180m double swoop

Tom Weber

• Updated: 13 Dec 2023 07:32 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal hold a concrete interest in Sporting CP pair Ousmane Diomande and Viktor Gyokeres, according to Portuguese media.

The Gunners are looking to make another splash in the transfer market in 2024 after this summer's spending spree and they are reportedly looking to the team that dumped out of the Europa League last season. Ruben Amorim's table-topping Sporting CP side boasts several talented players and Arsenal are keen on two men in particular.

Already reported last week and now confirmed by O Jogo, Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu are keeping an eye on striker Viktor Gyokeres, about whom many English clubs will feel that he is one who got away given that he was playing in the Championship last season and only cost Sporting €20 million.

Now, the striker has a €100m release clause and will be anything but a bargain, especially after having recorded 15 goals and seven assists in 18 games in all competitions so far. Additionally, the Gunners face Premier League competition for his signature as Chelsea have also added him to their shortlist.

Gunners eye Diomande

Besides Gyokeres, Arsenal hold a very long-standing interest in defender Ousmane Diomande, a player they have been monitoring since he was a teenager at Midtjylland. The 20-year-old joined Sporting in January 2023 for just €7.5m and now has a whopping €80m release clause.

It is asserted that signing Diomande would be a bigger priority than Gyokeres, with the Gunners also linked with other strikers such as Dusan Vlahovic, Marcos Leonardo and Ivan Toney.

Sporting won't let their stars depart mid-season given that they find themselves in the midst of a title challenge and are in the Europa League knockouts, but they may be willing to listen to offers for the pair in the summer and Arsenal will be at the front of the queue.