Sven Mislintat wants Arsenal to sign a centre-back as one of four positions he’s looking to strengthen this summer according to reports, but who are the available options?
We recently covered reports of the four areas Arsenal’s new head of recruitment wants to strengthen over the summer, which you can check out here.
One of these areas was in the back line, as the club look to replace and reinforce a group that are mostly ageing, injury prone, retiring or inexperienced.
So who could the club look to target this summer?
4Stefan de Vrij
- Age: 26
- Current club: Lazio
- Contract until: 2018
- Market value: £31.5m
Stefan de Vrij’s market value may be in over £30m, but he’ll be available for free this summer. His contract is coming to an end, and he confirmed on Instagram that he won’t renew it.
According to reports, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool are all interested in signing the defender. Wenger apparently sent scouts to watch the player in action recently. Last November the manager reportedly got in touch with Lazio over a transfer.
De Vrij has now spent three-and-a-half seasons in Italy, and is currently in the midst of a Europa League campaign like Arsenal. So he has the experience, and has performed consistently for Lazio this season.
If the club are looking for a budget option to save their money for other positions, De Vrij could work well.