Arsenal Linked With A £20m Move For Buccaneering Full-Back: A Smashing Move By Arteta?

Arsenal could make a move for Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico, it has been claimed.

The Argentine international has been a part of Ajax since 2018, having joined the club for £4 million from Independiente.

As per The Sun, Arsenal could buy the full-back for a fee of around £20 million, as the Argentine reportedly has an agreement to leave if Ajax are happy with the fee.

The likes of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea have also reportedly tracked the Argentine.

Tagliafico has made just under 100 appearances for the club since signing for them in January 2018. He has racked up 12 goals and 15 assists for Ajax after joining them. His current deal with the club expires in 2022.

Nicolas Tagliafico To Arsenal – A smashing move by Arteta?

Arsenal have had issues at left-back over the last few seasons. Sead Kolasinac was brought in a few seasons ago, but he hasn’t really nailed down a place in the starting XI, while Kieran Tierney – who was brought in ahead of the 2019-20 season – has suffered too many injuries, which have kept him for the majority of the season.

Bukayo Saka – an 18-year-old — was moved from his left midfield position to left-back, and the teenager has impressed, but he is not a long-term solution for the position as he isn’t a natural defender and is better off further up the pitch.

The Gunners need an able left-back who can defend and attack, and that is where Nicolas Tagliafico would be a solid option.

The Argentine full-back is good on the ball, and is a confident passer, averaging 52.6 passes per game in the 2019-20 season, with an accuracy of 85.9%.

The full-back is an agile player, who can maraud up the pitch and be a good outlet on counter-attacks, or use his pace to keep up with attackers during the offence to defence transitions.

The 27-year-old averaged 2.5 tackles per game in the Dutch league, while also making 1.7 interceptions. Tagliafico is a hard-working defender who is a dependable figure at the back.

He may not have the attacking attributes of Saka, but he is a good passer, and a strong tackler who can press well.

These qualities will make him a good fit in the Arsenal defence, which has looked uninspiring over the last few seasons. Tagliafico could compete with Tierney when the Scotsman returns from his injury.

Stats via Whoscored