By Atoyebi Nike
Chelsea flew out for their Club World Cup campaign today, but transfer activity at home remains a priority—particularly in central defence. With Wesley Fofana still sidelined through injury, uncertainty persists over who will partner Levi Colwill next season.
Several defensive targets are no longer viable, including Dean Huijsen, who is undergoing a medical at Real Madrid. As options narrow, interest in Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande appears to be gaining traction.
According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, both Chelsea and Arsenal are seriously monitoring the 21-year-old Ivorian, with Crystal Palace also showing interest. Diomande fits Chelsea’s recruitment model—young, talented, and financially accessible in terms of both transfer fee and wages.
With no progress reported on other targets like Palace’s Marc Guehi, Chelsea’s pursuit of Diomande could soon gather momentum.
