Arsenal could reportedly face competition in their bid to sign defender Ousmane Diomande from Sporting Lisbon in January.
The Gunners had a £30m bid rejected by the Portuguese club last summer, with the centre-back’s release clause set at around £69m.
Arsenal are expected to return with an improved offer for the 19-year-old Ivory Coast international.
However, according to Fabrizio Romano‘Three or four clubs’ are also monitoring Diomande’s progress ahead of potential bids for him.
Romano adds that Arsenal would have struggled to sign the teenager last summer as he was not for sale. His Sporting contract runs until 2027.
Arsenal are expected to return in January with an improved bid for Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande, but could face competition from a number of other clubs
The Ivory Coast international (left) has a £69 million release clause in his contract with Sporting Lisbon
Mikel Arteta could add a new defender to his Arsenal squad in January
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Diomande came from Danish club Midtjylland in January, after spending a while on loan at Portuguese second division club Mafra.
Since then he has made 21 appearances, scoring one goal, and this month made his Ivory Coast debut in their 1-0 win over Lesotho in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
Arsenal considered signing a central defensive back after Jurrien Timber suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the summer that ruled him out for several months.
Mikel Arteta can already call on William Saliba, Gabriel and Jakub Kiwior, among others, while Ben White can also play there.
The Gunners sold Rob Holding to Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day.
Arsenal travel to Everton for their next Premier League match on Sunday afternoon before starting their Champions League campaign against PSV Eindhoven next Wednesday.