Fancy another German?
There are a number of stories floating around the internet today linking Arsenal with a move for Borussia Dortmund’s 26 year old Kevin Grosskreutz.
All of the reports flow back to one report from Italy which suggests that Arsenal have made a €5m (£3.7m) move for the versatile German international.
The report then continues by saying that Dortmund are holding out for closer to their €12m (£9m) valuation but with his contract due to expire next year, Arsenal feel that there is some room for negotiation with the struggling German club.
Ok, so there’s the story – and it’s a good one.
But is there anything beneath it? Is there any truth?
The first thing to say is that I can’t find anything to suggest where the information that Arsenal have made a bid has actually come from (beyond the report). I don’t have any indication as to who the source is or where the information has actually come from – so because of that, the report loses part of it’s credibility.
However, the move in itself makes quite a lot of sense.
Grosskreutz can play in a variety of positions including right back, left back and across the midfield, and with Mathieu Debuchy injured for three months, Podolski at Inter (and running his mouth more than he ever did his legs), Joel Campbell likely to leave on loan and with the contracts of Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Francis Coquelin expiring Grosskreutz could well come in and fill a number of roles at the club and provide some extra quality in depth.
On top of that, Grosskreutz has Champions League experience (not that it will help this season), and is a winner having lifted the Deutsche Meisterschale twice. Having that kind of experience in a squad will only help raise the belief in the dressing room.
But with the Paulista deal hopefully being wrapped up soon, how likely is Wenger to spend more money in January given his hatred of the winter window?
Well when asked in his pre-Brighton press conference whether Paulista would represent the end of his spending, Wenger replied “Not necessarily“.
It seems that he could well have another target in mind. It could be Grosskreutz, but will Grosskreutz want to leave the club he supports in their hour of need?
Unless Dortmund want rid of him, I’m not convinced.
But we will know for certain by 2nd February at the latest.