Arsenal ‘will face competition from three or four clubs’ in their bid to sign Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande after Gunners’ £30m offer was turned down

• Sporting turned down a £30m offer from Arsenal for the 19-year-old defender
• Gunners are expected to return with an improved bid for Diomande in January 
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Arsenal could reportedly face competition in their bid to sign Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande in the January window.

The Gunners had a £30million offer rejected by the Portuguese club over the summer, with the centre-back’s release clause set at around £69m.

It is anticipated Arsenal will return with an improved offer for the 19-year-old Ivory Coast international.

However, according to Fabrizio Romano, ‘three or four clubs’ are also monitoring Diomande’s progress ahead of potential bids for him.

Romano adds that Arsenal would have struggled to sign the teenager last summer as he wasn’t up for sale. His Sporting contract runs until 2027.

Arsenal are expected to return with an improved offer for Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande in January – but could face competition from a number of other clubs

The Ivory Coast international (left) has a £69m release clause in his Sporting Lisbon contract

Mikel Arteta could look to add another defender to his Arsenal squad in January

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Diomande joined them back in January from Danish club Midtjylland, having spent time on loan at Portuguese second division club Mafra.

He has since made 21 appearances, scoring one goal, and this month made his Ivory Coast debut in their 1-0 win over Lesotho Africa Cup of Nations qualification.

Arsenal considered signing central defensive cover after summer arrival Jurrien Timber suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, ruling him out for several months.

Mikel Arteta can already call upon the likes of William Saliba, Gabriel and Jakub Kiwior, while Ben White is also capable of playing there.

The Gunners sold Rob Holding to Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day.

Arsenal travel to Everton on Sunday afternoon in their next Premier League match before beginning their Champions League campaign against PSV Eindhoven next Wednesday. 

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