Arsenal will reportedly face competition if they return with a new offer for Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande.

The Gunners were productive during the summer transfer window, strengthening in a number of positions ahead of their return to the Champions League.

Goalkeeper David Raya, defender Jurrien Timber, midfielder Declan Rice and playmaker Kai Havertz were all added to Mikel Arteta's squad.

However, it has been recently reported that Arsenal failed with an approach for young Sporting defender Diomande, largely a consequence of his high release clause.

Despite being just 19 years of age, Diomande is said to have a buyout option in the region of £69m, a valuation that Arsenal refused to meet.

Instead, the Premier League outfit are said to have only gone as high as £30m, a proposal that was quickly rejected by Sporting officials.

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal intend to return with an improved offer for Diomande at some point during 2024.

Nevertheless, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano adds that the North Londoners will not be alone when they make that bid with three or four other clubs said to be monitoring the situation.

While those teams remain unnamed, the suggestion is that they will be on a level playing field with Arsenal courtesy of Sporting being in no rush to part ways with Diomande.

After moving to Estadio Jose Alvalade in January, the young Ivorian went on to make 17 appearances in all competitions, including the full 120 minutes in the second leg of the Europa League last-16 tie versus Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in March.

Since then, Diomande has started each of Sporting's four Primeira Liga fixtures during the opening weeks of 2023-24, helping his club to 10 points during that period.

Prior to moving to Sporting, Diomande had featured on 17 occasions for Portuguese second-tier side Mafra after previously being in Denmark with FC Midtjylland.

Diomande possesses a contract at Sporting until the end of the 2026-27 campaign. body check tags ::