According to SportBild (via Talksport), Arsenal are considering a January move for Borussia Dortmund star Julian Weigl.
The German midfielder has struggled to crack the first team following exceptional performances from new signings Axel Witsel and Thomas Delaney this season.
Bild earlier reported that Weigl is listed among players who will be allowed to leave in January and it is believed that Arsenal are preparing a £68 million bid for the German international.
But Weigl he a viable target for the Gunners?
Julian Weigl: Player profile
Much like Sergio Busquets of Barcelona, Julian Weigl is a transitional midfielder, who mainly bridges the gap between the defence and the attack. He tends to drop in and collect the ball from defence and distribute it around the pitch, which is a crucial aspect of any possessed based team and that’s exactly where Weigl excels at.
The 23-year-old is blessed with excellent passing qualities, having attained over 90% pass accuracy on a regular basis since joining Dortmund a few years ago. In addition, he rarely loses possession and is also quite effective in the build-up play, which is the backbone of any top European team.
On the flip side, however, Weigl’s physical prowess is non-existent as he often struggles in dealing with robust midfielders while he is also weak when it comes to aerial duels.
But most importantly, Weigl often fails to perform in big matches or even against high pressing oppositions, who, more often than not, isolate the German international, ultimately minimising his influence in midfield.
Should Arsenal sign Weigl?
Arsenal will welcome someone like Weigl in their ranks given how Granit Xhaka’s inconsistent run of form at the Emirates. He could form an exciting midfielder partnership with Lucas Torreira midfield, where the stark differences between the two players will add an extra dimension to the Arsenal midfield.
That being said, his lack of physicality could prove to be a massive issue in the physically astute Premier League while he also struggles against high-pressing oppositions, which is bound to get more difficult in the faster-paced English football.
In addition, he has also been off-colour in recent months, largely thanks to an ankle injury that had kept him out for nearly 100 days. And given how less often he has played this season, the acquisition of Weigl will be no less than a risk for Arsenal and certainly not a prudent move.
Stat courtesy: Transfermarkt
