Arsenal have reportedly switched their focus back to Roma defender Kostas Manolas after seemingly failing in their bid to sign Shkodran Mustafi.
According to The Sun, the Gunners sent scouts to watch the Greek international during Tuesday night’s Champions League qualification tie with Porto at the Stadio Olimpico.
It turned out to be a nightmare night for the Giallorossi as they fell to a 3-0 defeat and ended the game with nine men, but time will tell as to whether it’s about to get worse in terms of losing one of their key players.
The Sun claim that Manolas would cost around £25m, but given his development and performances during his time in Serie A, it’s highly likely that he will cost much more than that, particularly in the current transfer market which has seen significant money spent for players not worth the amount splashed out.
Arsene Wenger is under a huge amount of pressure to act in the transfer market before the deadline at the end of the month, and it appears as though he may have moved on from Mustafi who looks set to remain at Valencia.
With Per Mertesacker and Gabriel sidelined with injury, the French tactician is short of options, experience and quality in the central defensive positions, and it’s no surprise that he’s prioritising that area of his squad in the coming days.
Having conceded four goals in their Premier League opener against Liverpool, it’s clear that they need to address the situation, despite Laurent Koscielny returning to action last weekend and helping his side keep a clean sheet at champions Leicester City.
Manolas would be a smart acquisition, as aside from boasting experience at a high level, he’s still young at 25, and has all the characteristics to be a success in England with his strength, pace and reading of the game all standing out.