Arsenal have made contact with Gremio over a possible move for Walter Kannemann to the Emirates Stadium this summer, it has been claimed.
The Gunners have been tracking him for quite some time and they might have to roll out around £12million to secure his services, it has been reported by Metro.
Arsenal missed out on a Champions League spot last season following their stuttering run of form during the business end of the previous campaign and therefore, they lack the financial muscle in the ongoing transfer window.
There have been reports indicating that Unai Emery has a tight budget of £45million to bolster his squad and it is implied that he needs to strike some bargain deals. In such a scenario, Kannemann seems to be a realistic option for them.
Will he be a good option for Emery?
The backline of the north London based outfit has been facing a lot of criticism for a considerable period of time. Lack of defensive solidity was unarguably one of the primary reasons for their lacklustre form last season.
While Laurent Koscielny is now only a shadow of his former self, Shkodran Mustafi has been erratic during his outings. The German has been prone to errors and Emery certainly needs to address his side’s defensive woes.
Kannemann could offer a solution in that regard with the player touted as one of the best central defenders in Brazilian Serie A at the moment. A tough tackler and an astute reader of the game, he would enhance the quality of Arsenal’s defence.
The 28-year-old has plied his trade for San Lorenzo, Atlas, and Gremio and has plenty of experience under his belt. His work ethic is exemplary and he is generally a calm and composed player at the back.
He might not be the tallest but is not averse to getting into aerial duels and attracts attention due to his controlled aggression while approaching the game. His pace will also be an added bonus for the Arsenal defence who are not the fastest in the league and his dynamic approach alongside someone like Sokratis has the potential to lend a balance to the otherwise unpredictable defence.
Although the detractors might point to his obvious lack of Premier League experience, there is no denying that he has the ingredients to excel in England and it will be interesting to see Arsenal’s stance on him and how Emery makes sure the jump is not too steep for the defender if he indeed makes the move.
