Chelsea looking to hijack €180m Arsenal double deal

Tom Weber

• Updated: 22 Dec 2023 14:32 GMT
• 3 min read

Chelsea are keen to beat Arsenal to the double signing of Ousmane Diomane and Viktor Gyokeres, according to a report.

The Sporting CP duo are two of Europe's most sought-after players. The prolific Gyokeres made the step up from the Championship, where he starred for Coventry, to the Portuguese top flight with ease and has been on fire this season, notching a spectacular 17 goals and eight assists in 20 games.

Diomande, meanwhile, is the young centre-back marshalling the backline alongside Goncalo Inacio, himself a player who is very much in demand, having been linked with the likes of Liverpool, Man Utd and Real Madrid in recent times. Diomande is a long-time Arsenal target, while Gyokeres recently emerged as a potential option in the Gunners' search for a striker.

Indeed, a Portuguese outlet claimed last week that Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu were plotting a sensational double deal for the two, amounting to a whopping €180 million due to Diomande's €80m release clause, while Gyokeres' stands at €100m. Now, it seems, Chelsea are planning to do the same.

Chelsea to hijack Arsenal deals

That's at least according to the Evening Standard, which claims that Chelsea have also enquired about the Sporting CP stars. The Blues are keen to add defensive reinforcements in January and have identified 20-year-old Diomande as a potential target.

It is asserted that Chelsea's initial approach was the defender was rebuffed by Sporting, who insist that the youngster will only leave if his release clause is triggered. The Blues were told the same with regard to Gyokeres. Their enquiry was met with the response that he is only for sale for €100m.

In addition to Gyokeres, Chelsea and Arsenal have also been linked with the likes of Ivan Toney, Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko, who is keen on a January move, in their search for a prolific number nine.