Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino could rotate his side for the visit of Preston North End in the FA Cup this weekend.
The Blues have endured a challenging season so far and have struggled with inconsistency, but they have beaten Crystal Palace and Luton Town in their last two Premier League games.
Championship side Preston travel to Stamford Bridge in the third round of the cup, and Pochettino could use the match to give game time to some of his fringe players.
With the January transfer window now open, it appears that Chelsea are also working hard to bolster the Argentine’s squad.
According to Football Insider, the West London club are hoping to beat both Arsenal and Newcastle United to the signing of Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande.
The report claims that both the Gunners and the Magpies have made contact with their Portuguese counterparts to assess the 20-year-old’s availability.
Despite that, Chelsea are putting plans in place in an effort to beat their Premier League rivals to the defender’s signature.
The Ivory Coast international is said to have a £70 million release clause in his current contract, and that fee may have to be met as Sporting are said to be reluctant to allow Diomande to leave the club this month.
Several clubs could therefore be set to battle it out for the player’s signature later this year, with Sporting keen to keep hold of the defender as they bid for the Portuguese top flight title.
Diomande joined Sporting from Danish side FC Midtjylland back in January 2023 and has since impressed for his current side, making 38 appearances across all competitions.
His impressive performances have attracted interest from several clubs across Europe, including some of the Premier League’s biggest sides.
The centre-back will represent Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations over the next six weeks.
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