Sven Mislintat has his eyes in the sky and his ear to the ground in his search to solve Arsenal’s problems, one of which is that of a defensive midfielder.
It’s now said that he is focusing his diamond eye on Sampdoria’s Lucas Torreira who has been pivotal in the recent success of the Italian side, according to reports in the Sun.
The report states that the North London club are ready to trigger the £22million(€25m) release clause of the midfielder. The youngster has also attracted interest from Liverpool, Juventus and PSG.
Torreira, an emerging talent in the Uruguayan national side, is a good reader of the game, can play out from the back and is able to deliver a short, safe pass to commence an attack or is capable of a searching pass into open space.
The 22-year-old covers good distance in attack and defence but is mindful of his primary role in the team as a firefighter. He currently plays in a diamond formation for Sampdoria and is tenacious in his desire for the ball and although his height (5’6) would appear to be a disadvantage, it doesn’t appear to prevent the diminutive midfielder from nipping at the oppositions ankles like a ball obsessed terrier.
Another quality that he possesses in spades, is the ability to choose the right pass and to increase his own chances of doing so by darting off unexpectedly at angles to offload the ball to an advanced position.
It’s an area where Arsenal have suffered inconsistencies and inadequacies for so long and it’s a role adopted by many top flight foreign clubs. It’s become a must-have for serious contenders in all competitions and will go a long way to restoring confidence in a new backline at the Emirates.
On the negative side, he has been guilty, on occasion, of mistimed tackles, something that will fade with experience. The youngster would be well advised to stand off his man for a second or two before committing or he may well find himself the recipient of a sea of red cards from a host of card-happy referees.
The player will cost somewhere in the region of £22 million and the North London club will need to act swiftly before that valuation increases due to interest from the likes of Liverpool and Everton.
Arsenal were also rumoured to be looking at Steven Nzonzi as an option in the same role. Out of the two, Nzonzi has previous experience in the premiership with Stoke, which is a distinct advantage but either player would be a welcome addition to the Gunners current side.
