Arsenal lining up a new defensive target!
The Gunners may be looking to prioritise a striker as the next player to join the team this summer, however if this new defensive transfer target becomes available, Wenger may have to make a move fairly sharpish.
According to reports in the media today, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, may be interested in making a move for Napoli full-back Elseid Hysaj. You may recognise the name from yesterday’s Euro match Albania vs Switzerland, with Hysaj being an Albanian international.
If you hadn’t heard the name before yesterday, then do not worry, neither had I, nor had most I’d imagine. However apparently Hysaj has been ever impressive over the past 12 months, helping Napoli remain strong at the back as they came second in SERIE A. Apparently this has led to Arsene Wenger considering the 22 year old to be a good prospect for the coming years and may make a move before he really rises to fame.
According to reports in the Metro, Arsenal may face competition from both Manchester United and Chelsea in their bid to sign the defender and so Wenger will have to make his move quickly to beat off his rivals.
Not too much is known about Hysaj and so I can’t really comment on if he is a good fit for the Gunners. Playing predominately as a full back, there is no way Arsenal are considering him as a replacement for Bellerin, so unless he plays left back in place of Nacho Monreal, then I’d assume Wenger is targeting Hysaj as being more of a centre back. He didn’t seem to stand out from the crowd in yesterday’s international game vs Switzerland but then as a defender then perhaps he simply done his job without showing anything too fancy. According to the papers, Hysaj would command a fee of around £15 million, which does seem a bit pricey for Arsene Wenger considering he is relatively unknown, however he may be worth the investment and with age well on his side, there is still plenty of time for growth and development.
Personally I think this is nothing more than yet another rumour. But If Hysaj is to join this summer, then could that mean that Mertesacker may be on his way out of the club? Or could Chambers be leaving on loan?
By AH
we keep changing with the tides……..from Koulibaly to Hysaj
do we really have a target?
Probably not.
He’s a RB, we don’t need him unless he will be a back-up RB. He starts most games in a decent Napoli side.
I am curious as to what level of research is conducted for articles like these. If this is a player/story you did not know much about I wonder why: 1. You decided to write it 2. You didn’t check facts. It really takes no time at all.
I appreciate this isn’t sky and do support and enjoy the page though.
We need a CB and a cenre-forward and Ricardo Rodriguez is a welcome signing for competition with Monreal. We need a strong battler like player to partner Koscielny
I would rather Koulibaly!
S K Y news reports that we want him as a replacement for Bellerin.
Boy, I hope not.
Sky have just quoted what the Daily Star have reported, hardly the same thing.
Bellerin signed a lomg term contract last summer, believed to be for four tears. He says he is happy at arsenal. He is going nowhere this summer.