Arsenal are understood to have finalised a contract with Schalke full-back Sead Kolasinac ahead of this summer’s transfer window. The Bosnian footballer is due to link up with the Gunners on a Bosman at the end of the season.
Kolasinac, 23, has been reluctant to extend his terms with Schalke 04 for a while, and according to Reprezentacija via The Sun, he has settled a pre-contract agreement with the north London giants. The highly rated defender has already chosen his new squad number, as per reports in Metro.
The left-back is understood to have attracted interest from several other clubs including Juventus, Manchester City and Chelsea due to his added potential of featuring as a centre-back and a holding midfielder.
However, it is the Gunners, who appear to have secured his signature after the full-back received assurances that manager Arsene Wenger would remain at the helm at the start of next season.
Wenger has received immense criticism from the club’s faithful for the Gunners’ poor run in recent times, but he is nevertheless expected to earn a fresh two-year deal due to the backing of owner Stan Kroenke.
The arrival of Kolasinac could coincide with the situation of Kieran Gibbs, who has played second fiddle to Nacho Monreal for the left-back role.
Gibbs has appeared just 10 times for the FA semi-finalists over the course of the season, and his future remains uncertain with his deal due to expire in less than 14 months’ time.
Kolasinac has managed to provide three goals and five assists in the ongoing campaign, and he will seek to offer strong competition to Monreal, who has cemented himself as the first-choice on the left side of the backline.
The Bosnian international is also understood to have fixed his squad number at Arsenal, and an announcement could be made regarding the free transfer during the off-season.
