Barcelona have been linked with Arsenal left wing-back Sead Kolasinac as they continue their search for Jordi Alba’s heir at Camp Nou.
According to a report from The Sun, the Blaugrana club are preparing a bid of £20m in order to bring the left-footed defender to the Catalan club in what is supposed to be a busy summer at the Camp Nou.
The 25-year-old earlier said he is happy at the north London club and remains unfazed by rumours swirling around. He provided 10 assists for his teammates in 36 appearances for Arsenal across all competitions in what was a fairly positive season for him on the personal front.
Kolasinac at Camp Nou: Is this a wise move?
The Bosnian international is a versatile player who predominantly features in the left wing-back role but possesses the flexibility to shift to left midfield or defensive midfield if the manager demands of him. Kolasinac is someone who does not shy away from bombing up the flank joining his teammates in attack while his work-rate means he is back in time to perform his defensive duties as well, averaging 1.3 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and 1.2 clearances per game.
His key passes in the final third remain vital to Emery’s front-footed philosophy. His crosses are targeted for the likes of Alexander Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to attack and more often than not, it is the option the Gunners take to pile on the pressure.
However, his addition to the Blaugrana dressing room doesn’t sound wise given the fact that he will cost around £20m and will most likely play a secondary role to Alba whose first-team status isn’t under any sort of threat right now. Moreover, there are question marks as to his quality and whether it can match up to the high standards the chiefs at the Nou Camp outfit strive for.
The signing of a permanent heir to Alba could be delayed by a year while Barca utilises the time and money on solidifying certain key areas on the pitch. The linked players in Antoine Griezmann and Matthijs De Ligt won’t come cheap and the money will be better spent on these two rather than the Bosnian who will turn 26 before the next season kicks-off in August.
The likes of Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic might see a reduced role next season given their subpar displays recently and looking for reinforcements in their respective positions should be the priority. Added to that, Barca need to scout for possible heirs to Pique and Busquets as they plan a smooth transition in the two most crucial areas of the pitch in a couple of years.
They should focus on promoting La Masia youngsters in Marc Cucurella and Juan Miranda and consider options such as the likes of Filipe Luis who is available on a free. It won’t be the wisest move to pay a considerable sum of money for Kolasinac who might ultimately fail to step up to the high-pressure demands.
Stat Courtesy: Transfermarkt, Whoscored