According to Calciomercato(via The Sun), Manchester United have tabled a £8 million bid for Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico. The Gunners are keen to bolster their defensive department after being infested with injuries so far this campaign.
Tagliafico has been identified as an ideal candidate after impressing in the Eredivisie this season. But can he prove to be a good addition for the North London giants?
Nicolas Tagliafico: Player profile and stats
Nicolas Tagliafico is advertised as an offensive fullback, who is gifted with supreme technical qualities. He is very good on the ball and is an excellent passer as well. Tagliafico has attained an impressive pass accuracy of 86% this season whilst averaging almost 60 passes per game, meaning his proficiency in ball rotation plays a key role in Ajax’s build-up from the back.
In addition, his neat footwork allows him to drift past defenders in the final third while his technical qualities help him link up with teammates in the final third. The Argentine international has averaged almost one key pass as well as one dribble per game, which are decent numbers for a fullback – though not exceptional.
Defensively, he appears lacklustre, at times, often losing his marker while his lack of physicality limits his quality as a defender. However, he has improved significantly following the end of a dismal World Cup campaign with Argentina and has racked up decent numbers for Ajax this season.
He has averaged over 2.4 interceptions per game, which is a substantial improvement from the World Cup(0.8). In addition, Tagliafico has attempted over three tackles per game along with two clearances, making him one of Ajax’s most important defenders this season.
Why do Arsenal need to sign Nicolas Tagliafico?
Arsenal have struggled with a myriad of injuries in their defensive department this season. Sead Kolasinac, in particular, has been suffering from a knee injury that has kept him out of action for the most part of this season. Thus, the Gunners need imminent reinforcements in the left-back position, especially with Nacho Monreal being the only recognised option.
Tagliafico, in that regard, could be an ideal candidate given his impressive performances this season. Although he may not be a guaranteed starter at Arsenal, his chances of breaking into the first-team are immense in the near future. His style of play perfectly tunes in with Unai Emery’s high-intensity gameplay while his strongest competitor in Nacho Monreal has already entered the final phase of his career.
Therefore, Tagliafico’s addition to Arsenal will provide much-needed depth in the defensive department as well as give them some future perspective, making him a viable transfer target for Emery’s men this January.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
