Arsenal have put Sampdoria’s duo Dennis Praet and Joachim Andersen on their radar as per reports.
The north London based outfit had a poor end to the season that saw them miss out on a place in next season’s Champions League, so they need to strengthen their team to get back into the top four next season.
According to the Daily Star, Sampdoria have asked for at least £44 million for Praet and Andersen, and it is to be seen how Arsenal react.
The Gunners were earlier linked with Cagliari’s Nicolas Barella and Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti. However, they have now pursuing cheaper alternatives, and are therefore targeting the Serie A duo.
Arsenal should meet Sampdoria’s demands and sign the duo
Praet featured as a central attacking midfielder during his time with Anderlecht, but after his move to Sampdoria, he has been used in the deeper midfield role. He has the knack to get forward time and again, and his precise passing helps him link up play and control the tempo of the game from midfield.
Aaron Ramsey will leave the Gunners at the end of the month, and his departure will leave a void in midfield. In such a situation, someone like Praet could be a valuable addition to the squad.
The 25-year-old is a calm and composed player and his dynamism is one of his strongest suits. He has a good work-rate and wins possession for his side at regular intervals. Praet has plenty of experience, and can handle the pressure of playing for a big club like Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Andersen could be the solution to Arsenal’s shaky backline. While Laurent Koscielny is arguably past his prime years, German centre-back Shkodran Mustafi has been largely inconsistent, and his errors cost the Premier League outfit considerably last season.
Andersen, in all fairness, could be a long-term answer for Emery. The 23-year-old is an imposing centre-back, and is very decisive with his tackling. More often than not, he is accurate with his passes and it has to be noted that he mustered a pass competition rate of 88.8% in the Serie A last season.
The duo’s arrival would add some much-needed freshness and quality to the Arsenal squad, so they should be ready to make the investment.
