Reports have surfaced claiming Arsenal are looking to boost their options in defence by trying to sign one or both of Manchester City’s Jason Denayer and Borussia Dortmund’s Matthias Ginter. It is believed the pair would cost £10m to £12m each (via The Sun).
For Denayer the timing might be just right. The 21-year-old Belgian international is believed to be considering exiting the Etihad in search of more first team football. That could prove to be a wise move considering reports in The Mirror which say City manager Pep Guardiola is apparently close to signing Juventus and Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci in a record-equalling £50m deal.
More regular pitch time for Denayer would likely help the young defender avoid situations like the one at Euro 2016 earlier this year, when he was deemed to be at fault for Wales’ third goal in their 3-1 quarter-final win over Belgium. If Arsenal are to sign him, they’ll need to improve on a £5m bid lodged last year.
Ginter, meanwhile, is said to have long been on Arsene Wenger’s hit list. It seems the Arsenal manager is now poised to swoop for the 22-year-old German international who, says the Sun, has been mooted as a possible replacement in the Gunners’ defence for compatriot Per Mertesacker.
Both men would surely be welcome additions to an Arsenal backline which has appeared at times to lack strength in depth. Should one or both of Laurent Koscielny and Mertesacker suffer injuries, that would leave us heavily reliant on Brazilian Gabriel Paulista. The 25-year-old, no doubt still finding his feet in the Premier League, has done little so far to suggest he is capable of leading the backline on a consistent basis.
That said, if Wenger were to enlist Denayer or Ginter, he would likely to do so with at least half an eye on the future given their relative youth. That may leave some critics and fans with question marks over his priorities. What Arsenal fans want to see most of all are signings which will have an immediate impact and lead to more silverware in the trophy cabinet.
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