Arsenal is likely to be about to land a French celebrity at the moment at Euro 2024, as supervisor Mikel Arteta reshapes his squad this summer season.
The Gunners have a protracted lineage of Gallic greats, with legendary supervisor Arsene Wenger, all-time document scorer Thierry Henry, Arsenal’s final title-winning captain Patrick Vieira all hailing from throughout the channel. Proper now, solely centre-back William Saliba performs for Les Bleus – however the precocious centre-back has referred to as on his employers to encompass him with extra Frenchmen at London Colney.
“Once I got here right here there have been loads of French gamers,“ Saliba instructed Arsenal’s official media final December, referencing former captains, Alexandre Lacazette, French-born Gabonese worldwide Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, French-born Ivory Coast star Nicolas Pepe and Matteo Guendouzi. “We have to signal extra French gamers! As a result of everybody has their gang. Portuguese, Brazilians they’re all collectively.”
William Saliba needs extra countrymen in north London with him (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Saliba could also be about to get his want – and alongside him within the backline – as journalist Gerard Romero that Arsenal have enquired to Barcelona about signing his worldwide team-mate, Jules Kounde.
Kounde is comfy at centre-back and right-back, taking part in the same position to Ben White within the Gunners’ setup. With Arteta used Jurrien Timber as a left-back in preseason 12 months in the past earlier than the Dutchman suffered a season-ending ACL harm on Matchday 1 towards Nottingham Forest although, it is potential that former Sevilla man could possibly be used wherever throughout the again 4 like Timber.
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The transfer might be throughout the realms of risk given Barça’s dire monetary scenario. As per the Athleticfinal month, the Catalan outfit have till June 30 to repair a “€130m gap of their accounts” – which means that smart affords should be thought-about for a lot of of their extra invaluable gamers this summer season.
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In FourFourTwo’s view, this can be a transfer that has come out of nowhere however one which we will see the sense in Barcelona accepting – particularly if fellow centre-back/right-back possibility Ronald Araujo stays put this summer season. There are solely a few questions that basically want answering – and each of them come from Arsenal.
Jules Kounde is on Arsenal’s radar (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
The Gunners lack a left-back of Ben White’s ilk and would absolutely prioritise one over one other right-back, what with White, Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu all pure suits there. If Arsenal can snare Kounde for an affordable sufficient charge, it might be sufficient to persuade Arteta to press on adapting to Timber right into a full-time left-back – however it must be such an excellent deal that it fully negates the clamour for a correct, conventional left-back.
Kounde is price €45 million, in response to Transfermarkt.
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Arsenal are pushing arduous to signal Ebere Eze from Crystal Palace, Joshua Kimmich has been linked and Mikel Merino is on the radar. Two Arsenal academy graduates are stated to be up on the market, as effectively.
In the meantime Leandro Trossard’s father has blasted Belgium boss, Domenico Tedesco, and Granit Xhaka is about for an Emirates return with Bayer Leverkusen this summer season.
