94% passing: Arsenal in the picture to sign 21yo Primeira Liga star, €80m clause in contracts

94% passing: Arsenal is in the running to acquire 21-year-old Primeira Liga talent, with an €80m release clause in his contract.

According to the Portuguese publication Record (page 14), Arsenal and Chelsea are both potential suitors for Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande.

The Ivory Coast international joined the Primeira Liga team from Midtjylland in January 2023 and has quickly become a vital part of their defensive lineup.

Diomande’s existing contract with Sporting is set to expire in June 2027, and Record reports that his future may be in doubt beyond the upcoming summer transfer window.

Turkish sources have mentioned Galatasaray as a club showing interest this month, but it has been stated that Sporting has yet to receive any official offers for the player.

Arsenal is preparing to make a significant bid for a £71m upgrade on Trossard, who has been likened to an “early Thierry Henry” – opinion

Arsenal is targeting a formidable winger

Even though Arsenal is performing well, there are still some areas of the squad that need strengthening, particularly the left wing.

While Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have made strides this season, and Eberechi Eze can also step in, the left side lacks a truly elite option compared to the likes of Bukayo Saka or Noni Madueke on the right, as well as the three forwards who can start when fit.

This sentiment seems to be echoed by the club, as recent reports from Spain suggest they are keen on Rafael Leão.

The report states that Arsenal is poised to make a substantial move in the winter transfer window for attacking reinforcements, with an offer of around €80m for the AC Milan star, which translates to approximately £71m.

The North London club reportedly sees the Portuguese international as an ideal addition, and Arteta is believed to be a strong admirer. However, with Chelsea, Manchester City, and several French clubs also showing interest, securing this transfer will not be straightforward.

That said, considering Leão’s talent and the fact that he has been compared to Henry, this is a deal worth pursuing aggressively, even if it may signal the end of Trossard’s time at Arsenal.

How Leão compares to Trossard

Given Arsenal’s requirement to enhance their goal-scoring capabilities, the initial aspect to examine when contrasting Leao and Trossard is their performance from the previous season.

Regrettably for the Belgian, this is where he falls short.

For instance, in 56 matches, accumulating 3455 minutes, he netted two goals and assisted ten times, resulting in an average of a goal contribution every 2.8 games, or every 172.75 minutes.

In comparison, the Milan star achieved a total of 12 goals and 13 assists in 50 matches, totaling 3499 minutes, which averages out to a goal involvement every other game, or every 139.96 minutes.

This year, the gap is narrower, but once again, the Portuguese dynamo leads the way.

In eight matches, totaling 470 minutes, he has generated six goal involvements, averaging one every 1.33 games, or every 78.33 minutes.

Conversely, the former Brighton & Hove Albion player has recorded eight goal involvements in 14 matches, totaling 832 minutes, which averages one every 1.75 games, or every 104 minutes.

However, while their output is ultimately the most significant factor, particularly for a team aiming for the title, there is also the aspect of their playing style and entertainment value.

Unfortunately for the 30-year-old, this is another domain where he is outperformed, as although his technical skills can be delightful to watch, he lacks the power and dynamism of the former LOSC Lille star.

Additionally, the 26-year-old’s capacity to retrieve the ball in his own half, challenge opposing defenders, and then slot the ball into the far corner is why former Milan coach Stefano Pioli remarked, “Leao reminds me a lot of the early Thierry Henry.”

Just envision a player capable of executing that once again wearing the club’s red and white and aiding them in breaking their two-decade title drought.

In conclusion, Trossard is a remarkable player and is currently in good form, but if Arsenal has the opportunity to sign Leao in the winter, they should seize it.

Despite dropping points against Sunderland over the weekend, Arsenal fans have plenty to be optimistic about.

Firstly, Mikel Arteta’s team remains firmly at the top of the Premier League standings, and just as crucially, they appeared genuinely threatening in the second half.

While they may have shown some defensive vulnerabilities, the Gunners excelled in their attacking play, with Leandro Trossard continuing his impressive form by scoring a stunning long-range goal.

However, although the Belgian is currently in outstanding form, recent reports indicate that his playing time could be significantly impacted by another international player who has drawn comparisons to the iconic Thierry Henry

Arsenal and Manchester United are reportedly going head-to-head in the race to sign rising star

Kennet Eichhorn from Hertha Berlin. The competition for the young European sensation has intensified, with both Premier League clubs eager to land the 16-year-old prodigy — described as the “rough diamond” of Hertha Berlin and valued at around **£17 million

Eichhorn has become one of the most talked-about names in German football after breaking into Hertha Berlin’s first team this season under coach **Stefan Leitl**. Initially introduced as a backup due to injuries within the squad, the young defensive midfielder quickly impressed with his composure and tactical maturity, earning a regular place in the starting lineup and already making eight appearances in Germany’s second division.

His standout performances have not gone unnoticed across Europe. According to reports from **Bild** and **Mundo Deportivo**, Hertha Berlin are open to listening to offers near the £17 million mark, as several top clubs monitor the teenager’s development.

In addition to **Arsenal** and **Manchester United**, other football powerhouses — including **Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt,** and **Bayer Leverkusen** — have dispatched scouts to observe Eichhorn in action at the Olympiastadion. Meanwhile, **Liverpool** and **Manchester City** are also believed to be conducting detailed assessments of the young midfielder, with club representatives frequently attending Hertha’s matches.

Eichhorn has earned praise for his tactical intelligence, game-reading ability, and exceptional control in midfield — attributes that have drawn comparisons to **Toni Kroos**. His manager **Stefan Leitl** expressed full confidence in the teenager’s potential, stating:

> “I don’t care if he’s 16 or 17 — Eichhorn is a major talent for Hertha. You can see in many moments that he’s destined to become a very special player.”

Although Eichhorn extended his contract with Hertha Berlin in July, his rapid rise has made it increasingly difficult for the club to resist growing interest from Europe’s elite. With his maturity, technical ability, and immense potential, **Kennet Eichhorn** is emerging as one of the brightest young talents in German football — and the battle for his signature is only jus