Arsenal are one of those clubs who are linked with almost every player that is available on the market. There are some rumors that seem a little more practical than the others.
One such rumor that has been making the rounds is the club’s reported interest in Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico with Metro recently claiming that the Gunners are leading the race to sign him.
The report further claimed that the left-back has been touted as a possible long-term replacement for Nacho Monreal. Now, the defender himself has spoken about the reported interest.
When queried about being linked to Arsenal and a host of other clubs, this is what he had to tell El Mundi Deportivo(as per Metro):
“I am enjoying life and football. We are privileged as footballers.”
“Our work is something fascinating and something we love to do. I enjoy playing for the national team and my club. I can’t think of what’s coming, that’s disrespectful to my club.”
The defender is also being linked to Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona and is rated at around €20million (£17m), as reported by Metro. If the Gunners are able to beat the competition from those clubs, it will be quite a coup for the club.
Tagliafico has been very impressive ever since he joined the Dutch giants in January of 2018. He has played a major role in Ajax’s champions league campaign this season where they knocked out Real Madrid in the Round of 16.
Arsenal currently have two options at left back. Both Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac have featured in this position for the North London club. What makes the interest in Tagliafico tangible is manager Unai Emery and his experimentation with different formations.
He has shown that he can play with a three-man defense as well as a traditional four-man defense. In the three-man defense, Monreal can slot in perfectly in the role of a center back.
Perhaps if Monreal does leave the club this summer, then it makes for the Gunners to sign someone with a profile like Tagliafico. The Argentine left-back has shown that he can handle his own at the elite level of European football and his jump to the Premier League should be smooth if he comes to the Emirates.
Kolasinac has been highly effective in the role of a wing back but there are still some questions about his defensive ability. And given the propensity of Emery to change his system, Tagliafico would be a perfect addition to the Gunners team. His attacking prowess combined with a defensive awareness makes him the perfect modern full back.
