Arsenal Linked With £15m-rated English Centre-back: A Gamble Worth Taking

According to The Sun(via Talksport), Arsenal are planning to lodge a £15 million bid for Ezri Konsa in the upcoming January transfer window. The Brentford defender has caught the attention with his impressive performances in the Championship this season and a move to the Premier League could be on the horizon.

The Gunners are keen to shore up their defence in January with Konsa being reportedly eyed as a potential candidate. But, is he really worth the fuss?

Ezri Konsa: player profile

Konsa is primarily a ball-playing defender, who can distribute the ball all across the pitch thanks to his excellent passing. Although it hasn’t been an exceptional season for Brentford by any stretch, Konsa has been instrumental at the back, partnering Chris Mepham, who has also impressed this campaign.

However, Konsa’s strengths are not restricted to passing and build-up play only, as the 21-year-old is known to be a hard-working defender, who is averaging over 3.5 clearances per game this season – a tally bettered only by his defensive partner Mepham.

Despite standing at 183 cms, Konsa is quite strong in the air as well, having won almost 2 aerial duels per game with a success rate of 55%.

He does not shy away from a physical duel but what makes him such a sought-after target in the transfer market is his relentless stamina which enables him to press the opposition throughout the course of the game as well as fighting for his team till the final whistle.

In addition, he is tactically astute as well, which is clearly reflected by his excellent positional awareness, which helps him stay one step ahead of the opposition.

Should Arsenal pursue Ezri Konsa?

Aside from the occasional lack of concentration, Konsa has no particular weakness in regards to his overall gameplay – making him an appealing target for Arsenal.

However, the 21-year-old is yet to taste top-flight football, which is far more challenging than the Championship for obvious reasons. Therefore, it is likely he will require time to settle into the Premier League unless he manages to replicate his form without any bumps on the way.

In addition, it is also unknown whether the player will be able to cope with the pressure and expectations of playing for a club like Arsenal, making him somewhat of a gamble for the Gunners.

But, given his hugely impressive skillset with no real significant weaknesses, splurging a fee of £15 million is a gamble worth taking for Arsenal as they look to return to the Champions League next season.

Stat courtesy: Whoscored