In a recent report, journalist Pete O’Rourke claimed that Aston Villa are eyeing a move for Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande. It has been stated that the Villans would face competition in the form of Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City in pursuit of the Ivory Coast international.
Diomande’s Impressive Form In Portuguese Football This Season
Diomande has enjoyed a good run of form for Sporting during this campaign as he has been responsible for putting in a lot of impressive displays at the heart of their backline. The 21-year-old has participated in 39 matches for the Portuguese club this season, scoring two goals and grabbing one assist in all competitions.
The Ivory Coast sensation has been a rock at the back based on his average of 1.2 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, 2.5 clearances and 1.2 shots per game in Liga Portugal. He has even been excellent when distributing possession from inside his half after making 94.3% of his attempted passes in the Portuguese top tier (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Portuguese club will expire in the summer of 2027. Therefore, the Villans would have to make a convincing offer if they are serious about signing Diomande later this year.
What Will Diomande Add To Aston Villa Boss Unai Emery’s Team?
Diomande is a good tackler of the ball and can make some crucial interceptions for his side on the defensive third of the pitch. He doesn’t mind clearing his lines when the opposition are on the front foot. The Ivory Coast international can shoot the ball well from long range. He can even use his strong 1.90m frame to dominate the opposition attackers in the air.
We can expect Diomande to add more bite and steel to Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery’s defence. He is good enough to compete for a regular first-team spot at the West Midlands club in the coming years.
At 21, Diomande has the potential to be a future star at Villa Park. Therefore, it makes sense for Emery to go all out to win the race for his services at the end of this campaign. However, it remains to be seen whether he can cope with the high intensity of Premier League football if the Villans manage to land him this summer.
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