Arsenal 'closely following' Italian midfielder with sale 'practically certain'

Arsenal are closely monitoring Vitoria Guimaraes midfielder Ibrahima Bamba ahead of the January transfer window, according to reports in Portugal.

Bamba, 20, has made 18 appearances for the Portuguese side this season and is now being linked with a big-money move next month.

Portuguese outlet O Jogo, as reported by Sport Witness, claim that Arsenal are among a group of top European clubs that are keeping tabs on the defensive midfielder.

Atalanta, Paris Saint-Germain and Villarreal are also said be closely following the midfielder’s progress and have contacted Vitoria Guimaraes over a potential January transfer.

Bamba set for move away in January

It is claimed that Vitoria are keen to cash in the interest in Bamba, with a sale described as "practically certain".

While it is not yet clear what asking price Vitoria would demand for Bamba, it is believed the midfielder has a €30m (£25.8m) release clause in his contract – having recently signed a new four-year deal at the Primeira Liga club.

In total he has made 25 first-team appearances for Vitoria, having made his senior debut for the club in the 2021-22 campaign.

Bamba was born in Vercelli, Italy in 2002 to Ivorian parents and as such is able to represent either Italy or the Ivory Coast at international level.

He is yet to make a senior appearance for either side but was called up to a 53-man Italy squad by Roberto Mancini in May.

TuttoMercatoWeb reported that the purpose of the three-day camp was to allow Mancini to evaluate "players of national interest".

The camp "represents only the first stage of a process that the FIGC [Italy’s FA] has launched in synergy with the leagues and clubs in order to facilitate the transition from the national youth teams to the senior national team," added the report.