Arsenal are leading the chase to sign Crystal Palace defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, it has been claimed.
According to The Sun, the Gunners are keen to bring in reinforcements in the right-back position and are tipped as the frontrunners in the pursuit of Wan-Bissaka, who could cost around £40 million.
Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Everton are also reportedly keen on the services of Wan-Bissaka in the summer, but it is Arsenal who have shown a definitive interest in the young defender.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: The perfect player under Emery?
The defensive department has caused Arsenal a myriad of problems this season. While their struggles in finding the right combination at the heart of the backline are well documented, they have also found it difficult to find a reliable option in the fullback slots.
Club’s first choice right-back Hector Bellerin, in particular, has struggled with both injuries and form while veteran defender Stephan Lichtsteiner has also struggled which is understandable given his age and the relentless nature of the league.
Therefore, the addition of a new right-back seems like a logical choice for Arsenal at the moment and Wan-Bissaka, in that regard, could be an excellent option.
The Crystal Palace defender has been one of the rising stars in the Premier League this season, having made more tackles than anyone else in the league. Remarkably, he has been dribbled past only seven times so far, meaning the 21-year-old has attained an exceptional tackle success rate of 93% – which is highest in the league.
He has also made 59 interceptions, which is enough to rank him fourth in the league and most by any fullback.
As the stats would suggest, Wan-Bissaka is a defensively astute right-back, who can certainly add more solidity to the Arsenal defence. But, what makes him such an appealing target for the Gunners is his all-round quality as the Palace starlet has completed 43 successful dribbles, which, again, is more than any other fullback in the league.
Thus, the 21-year-old will not only be able to fortify the Arsenal backline but also drive forward and provide the additional support in the final third – making him a tailor-made fit for Unai Emery.
In addition, Wan-Bissaka, at the age of just 21, could also turn out to be an excellent long-term investment for the club and considering the success he has had this season, Arsenal may not get another chance to sign this highly talented defender, who seems more than ready to make the next move in his career.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored