Arsenal FC is reportedly targeting Roma’s Kostas Manolas as their centre-back hunt continues.
According to the Daily Mail, the Gunners are keen on signing Roma’s 25-year old central defender Kostas Manolas. The newspaper reports that the Greek international has been on their radar for over two years now and they have decided to revive that interest this summer.
Arsenal scouts have watched Manolas in UEFA Champions League action yesterday night as they search for a Shkodran Mustafi alternative. Valencia’s Spanish manager Pako Ayestaran had insisted yesterday that 24-year old Mustafi will be staying with the La Liga giants as last season’s Premier League runner-up are unwilling to meet his release clause of £43million.
With just a week left in the summer transfer window, the Gunners are scrambling for alternatives and Arsenal had scouts present at Roma’s Champions League qualifier defeat to Porto to watch Greek international defender Manolas. However, they might not have been impressed by what they saw as Manolas played in defense as Roma were beaten 3-0 at home by Porto and had two men sent off as they failed to reach the Champions League group stage this season after a 1-4 aggregate defeat over two legs.
It’s been made very clear over the summer that Arsenal is lacking in the defensive department. Even before the season started, a majority of the Gooners around the world expressed their discontent over the current state of the club and said that they would like the club to land a new centre-back, but those desires strengthened following injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista.
In their absence, the Gunners have been forced to field the inexperienced duo of Calum Chambers and Rob Holding at centre-back and are yet to win a game this season. Wenger has also rubbished criticisms surrounding his transfer policy, insisting he is willing to spend money if the ‘right’ opportunity presents itself. However, he also warned that spending is no guarantee of success.
Manolas is said to be the latest addition to an increasingly long list of players being chased by Arsenal. The 25-year-old Greek centre-back has played 88 games for Roma following a move from Greek champion club Olympiacos in 2014.
The Gunners’ search for a central defender has reached its crisis after the chances of completing a move for Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi looking bleaker by the day.
With the club in desperate need to bring in a new striker and centre-back in order to attain Premier League glory this season after a long gap of 13 years and just seven days left in the current summer transfer window, Arsenal fans wait anxiously with a lot of questions running through their minds. Only time will provide them with an answer.
