Arsenal are leading the race for Crystal Palace defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but they’d have to pay at least £40m to land the 21-year-old, according to reports.
Wan-Bissaka
Reportedly, Everton, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Arsenal are monitoring the Palace right-back at the moment, but The Gunners are at the head of the pack.
The piece suggests Wan-Bissaka would cost ‘at least £40 million’, but it’s not hard to imagine the reality could be much higher. The player is one of the brightest young talents in the league right now and a key part of Palace’s side. Plus, the original source of the rumour is The S*n, so take it with a pinch of salt.
There’s no doubt that Arsenal should be in the market for a right-back this summer though. Hector Bellerin’s injury is likely to keep him out of the first team at the start of next season, and it doesn’t seem probable that the club will extend Stephan Lichtsteiner’s deal.
That means going into the new campaign with just Carl Jenkinson, which is a bit of a gamble. Wan-Bissaka might already be out of Arsenal’s reach, and there are no guarantees Palace will sell this summer anyway. Let’s take a look at other right-backs linked to a move.
Click ‘Next’ for more right-backs recently linked with a transfer to Arsenal
Max Aarons
Arsenal are reportedly prepared to match any move from North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for Norwich City right-back Max Aarons.
The Mirror wrote in late December that the 18-year-old has impressed Arsenal this season, and Unai Emery’s transfer team are ‘keen to take him’. They face competition from Tottenham though, who are just as keen to bring the full-back to their club.
However, Norwich weren’t keen to let Aarons leave in January, but there was a suggestion they would be willing to do business in the summer. That makes sense, considering the right-back has started most league games this season, so he’s clearly a crucial part of their run for promotion.
Despite his position in the defence, Aarons has scored three and assisted four this season, so he provides a bit of attacking threat as well as his defensive capabilities. His best attribute is probably his dribbling though, which is helpful given how much Arsenal full-backs have to get forward and take players on.
Click ‘Next’ for more right-backs recently linked with a transfer to Arsenal
Emerson
Arsenal were one of four European contenders chasing Atletico Mineiro defender Emerson in January, according to reports in Brazil. Brazilian outlet UOL (via Sport Witness) reported that Atletico Mineiro were ‘prepared to sell’ Emerson in the January transfer window, to hit their financial targets for the campaign.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Betis were the four interested sides. The two Premier League teams had been scouting the 19-year-old for months, but the right-back ended up moving on loan to Betis until the end of the campaign. Nonetheless, a permanent transfer could be back on this summer.
That wasn’t the first time we heard about Arsenal’s interest in the player. A Bola Brasil wrote in November that Arsenal were one of three European clubs to take notice of the defender’s progress.
The Gunners had ‘shown interest’ in signing the youngster, whose club progress even saw him called up for the Brazilian u20 team on multiple occasions last year.
WhoScored list the player’s aerial duels and concentration as his strengths, whilst he is weaker at holding on to the ball, which is fairly common for young players. He likes to play short passes and isn’t afraid to get stuck in or commit a foul if he thinks it’s necessary.