Arsenal be a part of the race to signal £68m star

Arsenal’s greatest power this season, and arguably final season as nicely, was their defence.

Mikel Arteta’s facet might have scored 17 objectives fewer than Liverpool within the Premier League, however then, though they completed ten factors off high spot, they managed to concede seven objectives fewer than the Reds.

Whereas this genuinely spectacular solidity is partly due to all the group, it would not be inaccurate to explain William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes because the chief architects of the Gunners’ virtually impenetrable backline.

So, followers must be delighted about current reviews linking the membership with a world defender in comparison with each of them.

Arsenal looking for one other defender

Earlier than attending to the star in query, it is price a number of the different defensive titans linked with Arsenal in current weeks and months, resembling Jorrel Hato and Marc Guehi.

The previous appears to be on the radar for lots of massive groups this summer time, at a value of round £42m, and it is not onerous to see why, as at simply 19 years outdated, he is already established himself as an important member of Ajax’s defensive setup.

Likewise, Guehi is simply as, if no more essential, for Crystal Palace, making 44 appearances throughout all competitions and profitable the FA Cup with them this season, which makes his supposed £50m valuation appear greater than cheap.

Nonetheless, whereas each of those gamers are brilliantly gifted, one other defender who might be an much more thrilling acquisition has now entered the body: Ousmane Diomande.

In accordance with a current report from Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, as relayed by Caught Offside, Arsenal are actually within the race for the Sporting CP star.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that London rivals Chelsea are additionally eager to deliver the Ivorian to the Premier League this summer time.

Whereas the report makes no point out of how a lot the centre-back may cost, reviews from final month reaffirm claims that he has a €80m launch clause in his present deal, which quantities to about £68m.

It might, due to this fact, be a pricey and certain difficult switch to recover from the road, however given Diomande’s means and the comparisons to Saliba and Gabriel, it is one Arsenal ought to battle for.

How Diomande compares to Saliba and Gabriel

So then, given simply how sensationally nicely Arsenal’s defensive duo have performed in current campaigns, it’s undoubtedly a daring declare to recommend that Diomande is not only just like considered one of them however each.

Nonetheless, that’s simply the declare revered analyst Ben Mattinson made when he described the Ivorian worldwide as “a hybrid between Gabriel and Saliba” simply final season.

Now, in the case of his similarity to the previous, you’ll be able to take a look at issues from the truth that the Brazilian is simply an inch taller at 6 foot 3 to their goalscoring means, with the Sporting star discovering the again of the web twice in 32 league video games to the Gunners’ titan getting yet another in 28 video games.

How in regards to the Frenchman, then?

Effectively, curiously, essentially the most convincing argument for the way comparable the Abidjan-born star is to the previous Saint-Etienne ace comes from FBref, which in contrast gamers in comparable positions within the Champions League this season.

It then created a listing of the ten most comparable gamers for everybody who participated within the competitors and concluded that the Bondy-born titan was the primary most comparable centre-back to the Sporting ace.

One of the best ways to know how this conclusion was reached is by analyzing a number of the underlying numbers wherein the pair ranked carefully, resembling non-penalty anticipated objectives plus assists, progressive carries, passing accuracy, anticipated assists, dwell passes, interceptions and extra, all per 90.

Lastly, whereas Saliba is now three years older, he was additionally being spoken about as one of the vital thrilling rising defensive skills at 21, so there will probably be some shared experiences between him and the Sporting gem ought to he transfer to the Emirates this summer time.

Finally, it is some huge cash, however with how extremely rated he’s and the very fact he is been in comparison with two of their perfect gamers, Arsenal ought to do what they’ll to signal Diomande this summer time.

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