Arsenal almost clinched a deal for Ousmane Diomande, now with Sporting, but the transfer fell through due to Brexit issues.

This revelation comes from Ove Pedersen, sporting vice-director at Diomande’s former club, Midtjylland.

Arsenal came close to signing Ousmane Diomande, who now plays for Sporting, but the transfer was thwarted by Brexit complications, according to Ove Pedersen, sporting vice-director at Danish club Midtjylland.

Diomande was initially with Midtjylland before moving to Sporting.

Arsenal had reportedly been willing to pay €35m for Diomande, who is currently valued at €25m by Transfermarkt and has an €80m release clause.

Sporting had acquired him for €7.5m after a loan spell with Mafra in the Portuguese second division.

In an interview with Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, Pedersen revealed the details of how close Arsenal came to acquiring Diomande.

“He was with us for about seven months. We signed him when he was about to turn 18. He arrived in November and we included him in the under-19 team,” Pedersen said.

Diomande caught the eye of Arsenal scouts during a Youth League match against Benfica. Pedersen added, “At the end, they rang me to ask who Diomande was, where he’d come from.

“I spoke to the Arsenal scouts, who saw his videos and asked for more information. They were interested. Brexit made that situation difficult, but if it hadn’t been for that he might have gone there.”

The sporting vice-director also noted the broad interest in the defender. “Diomande was already coveted. At the time, it was Arsenal, who spotted him in the under-19s, but others too. We know there are a lot of people interested.

“There are Premier League clubs who have been looking to find out more about him,” he said.