Chelsea have reportedly moved ahead of London rivals Arsenal in the race to sign Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande.
The 20-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the most sought-after central defenders in Europe since joining Sporting in January last year.
Diomande has made a total of 44 first-team appearances for the Portuguese giants in all tournaments, including 24 starts across the Primeira Liga and Europa League so far this season.
The former Midtjylland youngster is understood to have caught the eye of a number of top European clubs during his time at Sporting and on international duty with Ivory Coast.
Diomande was handed his first senior cap for the Elephants in September last year and has since made a further four appearances, including two outings in the nation's triumphant Africa Cup of Nations campaign last month.
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Clubs including Chelsea and Arsenal allegedly sent scouts to closely monitor Diomande's performances at AFCON ahead of making a potential move in the summer.
As things stand, Portuguese news outlet Record claims that Chelsea have expressed a strong interest in Diomande and have moved ahead of Arsenal, as well as other potential suitors including Newcastle United and Juventus, to the front of the queue for his signature.
The report adds that the Blues have already made contact with the defender's representatives as they bid to steal a march on their rivals ahead of the summer transfer window.
Diomande is under contract at Sporting until the summer of 2027 and previous reports have suggested that the Ivorian has a release clause worth €80m (£69m).
However, it is thought that Chelsea would be willing to pay around €60m (£51m) upfront, plus a further €20m (£17m) in add-ons.
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Chelsea's pursuit of Diomande comes at a time when the long-term future of Thiago Silva is uncertain, as the 39-year-old is due to see his contract expire at the end of the season.
The Blues' summer transfer business will likely depend on their financial situation, though, with the club announcing losses of over £211.5m across the last two seasons.
Mauricio Pochettino's side are therefore under pressure to stay within the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules and could be forced to sell a number of first-team players this summer.
The likes of Conor Gallagher, who has entered the final 18 months of his contract, Marc Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah and Armando Broja - currently on loan at Fulham - have all been linked with permanent moves away from Stamford Bridge.
Oliver Thomas
