Arsenal Head of Recruitment Sven Mislintat has identified eight players for the club to consider signing this summer, ahead of what promises to be a busy window.
After last month’s revelation that Arsenal will focus their transfer efforts on four main areas, Football.London have listed eight of the individuals reportedly on their radar this summer.
Let’s take a look at each player, and how likely it is that they could be on their way to the club this summer.
4Abdou Diallo
- Position: Centre-Back
- Age: 21
- Current club: 1. FSV Mainz 05
- Contract until: 2022
- Market value: £9m
Diallo was one of the first players Mislintat reportedly recommended for Arsenal to look at, but his manager ruled out a transfer in the winter window.
The defender is still young, but he’s already a regular in a top-five league. Mainz have given him 26 appearances this season, all of them starts. As we reported previously, he’s been in Kicker’s team-of-the-week consistently, so he’s playing well.
Bundesliga.com published an article earlier in the season focusing on his displays. They called him a “natural-born leader with an eye for goal” adding he’s a fast learner who just wants to be on the pitch as much as possible.
Another big positive in Arsenal’s pursuit of the centre-back is that he has experience in both of the Gunners’ current defensive systems.
Wenger has switched between a three-man defence and a four-man defence this season, which can be unsettling for defenders. Diallo has experience of both this season, and he’s performed well either way.