Arsenal Attempting Hijack Manchester Utd £120k-A-Week CB Deal
Arsenal are set to go head-to-head with Manchester United over the signature of German World cup star and winner Mats Hummels. The Borussia Dortmund’s defender has been identified as a transfer target for manager Arsene Wenger.
The Gunners have been dealt a big blow by injuries to key players and manager Arsene Wenger is looking to reinforce his team defensively. Wenger has identified Per Metersacker’s German defensive partner as the man to add the required steel to the Arsenal’s defence.
Defender Laurent Kocielny is the latest injury worry for Wenger as the player was forced out of France squad for their friendly against Portugal. The player was diagnosed of having tendinitis in his two achilles and is said to have been carrying the chronic tendinitis of both achilles tendons for several months.
The transfer policy of Arsene Wenger has been called to question several times least when he allowed Thomas Vermaelen and Bacary Sagna to join Barcelona and Manchester City in the summer without recruiting any experience centre-back cover for the duo of Per Metersacher and Laurent Kocielny.
Injury to Mathieu Debuchy means that Arsenal are already light weight at the back and if Kocielny fails to recover on time for this weekend game against Hull City, Arsenal would only have teenage right back Calum Chambers or inexperienced teenager Hector Bellerin who is also a right back as the Cover at centre back for Kocielny.
Wenger however look set to address the centre back issue with the signing of Borussia Dortmund player Mats Hummel though he will have Manchester United to contend with.
Manchester United on their part have tracked the World cup winner all summer but were unable to get their man. With the injuries and frailties that have been suspected in United’s defence early in the season, it is believed that Louis Van Gaal is still interested in adding the 25-year-old to fill the gap created by the departure of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic last summer and could make a bid as early as this winter transfer window.
Jorgen Klopp has already sounded the suitors they are not ready to sell their player but could be forced to sell if a big enough offer comes idea from any of the top English club especially if the player himself want a move.
It is yet to be seen who will get the defender but he will be a good addition and upgrade to both side’s defence. Arsenal have Per Metersacker and Laurent Kocielny as the only experienced central defenders. And the addition of Mats Hummels will ease the pressure off Kocielny who has long history of achilles. Again Hummels having partner Metersacker at the German national team will struck a good understanding with his compatriot at club level if he makes the move.
Louis Van Gaal is still searching for the right player to play his desired three-man defence in a 3-5-3 formation and with injuries to key defenders like Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans, he will still look to add the experienced German even though he also has interest in fellow dutch Ron Vlaar at Aston Villa.
It will be fun to see how this transfer pans out, but which ever team eventualy lands him will have added a steel to their defence.