A new era has already begun at Arsenal with Unai Emery taking over from Arsene Wenger who stepped down a few weeks ago. The Frenchman’s presence will be missed but under someone able like Emery, the fans will be pretty hopeful of new things in the coming years.
The ongoing transfer window will obviously be key for Emery to stamp his authority on the squad. However, considering how much the Gunners have spent in the last couple of windows, he’ll have to get a few shrewd deals done and move the club forward.
Latest reports indicate that the Gunners are close to signing Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos. The 29-year-old’s contract with the former German champions expires in 2019 and the club are willing to let him leave for a fee of 16 million Pounds.
Considering how good a player he is and the experience he has gathered over the years, he could be a steal for that fee on the present day market.
Sokratis – Fact file
A pretty experienced campaigner in the Bundesliga, Sokratis moved to Dortmund in 2013 from Werder Bremen for a fee of 9.9 million Euros. The Greek international made 30 appearances for the side earlier this season in the league.
Though Dortmund were not known for their defensive rigidity, Sokratis can’t really be blamed for the side’s poor performances as the back four or back three didn’t really have the protection from the midfielders.
Sokratis recorded 2.6 tackles and 1 interception a game. Because of how Dortmund played, he had to be a front-footed tackler more often than not and mustered 3.5 clearances per game in the league.
Right choice by Arsenal?
The Gunners have often signed young players and chiselled them into stars. However, they now need to be bolder in the transfer market. Like they did with Aubameyang in the winter, Sokratis would add more quality to the backline and he won’t take all that long to settle because is a warrior on the pitch.
Koscielny isn’t getting any younger either, so the Greek could be the leader at the back. A no-nonsense defender, he’d bring more calmness to the Arsenal backline that has looked shaky so often in the last few years.
Sokratis still has at least three to four good years left as well, so Arsenal will manage a coup if they sign him.
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