Reports by The Sun have suggested that Arsenal have stepped up their interest in Benfica’s dazzling youngster, Andrija Zivkovic. The report also stated that Arsenal’s scouts dissected Zivkovic’s performance against Portimonense in the Primeira Liga fixture.
The Serbian international scored in his side’s 1-3 away win in the aforesaid game and apart from the Gunners, Manchester United are also interested in him.
Zivkovic – Fact File
Zivkovic blossomed while he was in the youth sides of Nacional Nis and Partizan and was eventually promoted to the senior side of the latter owing to the calibre he showed.
He was quite productive for Partizan which prompted Benfica to sign him in the summer of 2016. In 9 league appearances for the Eagles so far this campaign, the 21-year-old has scored 2 goals and has notched up 2 assists.
Attributes
Zivkovic is a natural winger who operates with blistering pace and tenacity, which enables him to break the defence of the opposition. His creativity is exemplary and he possesses the required technical skills to make his presence felt in the game. He is an astute crosser of the ball and knows how to pop up in the right areas at the right time.
He is also a pretty good passer of the ball, having recorded a pass accuracy of 82.7% this season. His versatility is another appealing aspect as he showcases the know-how to play as a central midfielder as well as on either wing, which gives him an added edge. It has to be noted that he is still young and has lots of scope for further development which would make him a better player in the coming seasons.
Why Arsenal Must Go For Him
Arsene Wenger has been an admirer of young talents since time immemorial. The north London based outfit are apparently struggling in the Premier League and they would be desperate to come back stronger next season and challenge for the Premier League title. Benfica value Zivkovic at £6.3million and given that Arsenal are likely to bring fresh faces to their ranks in the summer, the winger could be a great addition for a very nominal transfer fee.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored