Scouts from Arsenal have been dispatched to observe Ousmane Diomande, a highly valued defender from Sporting, during his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations.

In a recent interview, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed his relief at the news of Jurgen Klopp’s departure from Liverpool. Guardiola referred to Klopp as his “best rival” and stated that he will now be able to sleep better knowing that Klopp will no longer be a threat in the Premier League.

Arsenal is reportedly keeping a close eye on Ivory Coast star Ousmane Diomande, with scouts being sent to watch him in action at the Africa Cup of Nations. The young Sporting defender has a release clause of £68 million and is attracting interest from several top clubs across Europe.

According to reports in the Express, Arsenal’s sporting director Edu is considering triggering Diomande’s release clause to secure his services. However, it is unlikely that Arsenal will be able to meet the hefty price tag before the end of the month. Nevertheless, the Gunners are positioning themselves for a potential transfer battle in the summer.

Other clubs interested in Diomande include Chelsea, Newcastle, Manchester City, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Juventus. Edu will be closely monitoring Diomande’s performances during the AFCON with Ivory Coast, as scouts compile detailed reports on the promising center-back.

Arsenal is on high alert as Barcelona may allow Sergi Roberto to leave on a free transfer this summer. The Gunners had previously made an enquiry for the 31-year-old last month. Roberto’s contract with Barcelona is set to expire at the end of the season, and the Spanish champions have no intention of renewing it.

According to the Metro, Arsenal’s interest in Roberto has been reignited, and they could potentially secure his services without having to pay a transfer fee. Xavi, the current head coach of Barcelona, had advocated for Roberto’s contract renewal last summer, but the club ignored his recommendation. It is widely expected that Roberto will leave Camp Nou alongside Xavi once the current campaign concludes.

Fabio Vieira, Arsenal’s out-of-favour midfielder, could be on the move to Ligue 1 side Monaco. The 23-year-old has struggled for game time since his £34 million move from Porto in 2022, making only 45 appearances for the club.

The Sun reports that Monaco has enquired about taking Vieira on loan until the end of the season. The Monegasque club sees Vieira as the perfect creative midfielder to help them secure Champions League qualification this season. Despite being linked with a move to Marseille in November, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, expressed his satisfaction with Vieira’s progress at the time. However, Arsenal’s rejection of West Ham’s loan offer for Emile Smith-Rowe could indicate that Vieira’s future at the club is uncertain.

David de Gea, who left Manchester United several months ago, could be making a return to football with Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab. The 33-year-old goalkeeper is reportedly in discussions with the club, which is also linked with several other high-profile players.

As a free agent, De Gea has attracted interest from various clubs, including Al-Nassr, who approached him back in November. Al Shabab’s potential signing of De Gea would be another transfer coup for the club, as they are also securing the services of Ivan Rakitic from Sevilla and considering a move for Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron. They are also eyeing Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech, who is currently on loan at Galatasaray.

Ziyech’s involvement at Galatasaray has been limited due to injuries, but he showcased his talent in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Manchester United in November, scoring twice and providing an assist.