Arsenal have reportedly won the chase to sign Schalke 04 defender Sead Kolasinac at the end of the campaign. The Bosnian footballer will join the north London giants on a free transfer after having agreed to a long-term deal at the Emirates.
According to Sky Sports, the left-sided defender will link up with the Gunners during the off-season after the club managed to convince the player ahead of the likes of Manchester City, Everton and AC Milan.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was initially said to be key to Kolasinac’s arrival, but it appears that the player has decided to push through the deal regardless of what the future holds for the long-standing manager.
Kolasinac had been first linked with a Gunners move in early April with reports suggesting that he had undergone a medical while attending a promotional event in the English capital.
Since then, there have been a lot of twists regarding the player’s future, but he has eventually decided to commit his future to the Gunners, who will be competing for FA Cup glory against Chelsea this month.
Kolasinac, who has previously represented Germany at the youth level, has featured in the central defensive and midfield positions apart from his regular left-back/left wing-back role, and this could provide the Gunners with the added depth as they embark on a potential Europa League campaign next term.
Arsenal are currently three points off the Champions League places with just two games to play, and they will require a massive slip up from either Liverpool or Manchester City in order to preserve their history of having finished in the top-four in each season under Wenger.
Kolasinac, who currently earns £35,000 a week, is likely to become one of the club’s highest earners next season with the Gunners not having to pay a transfer fee in order to lure him from the Veltins-Arena.
His arrival could hinder the prospects of one of Kieran Gibbs or Nacho Monreal with the former having been often ignored from the starting lineup this term.
