Arsenal are leading the chase to sign Evan N’Dicka this summer, with Express.co.uk claiming that the defender’s representatives have already been contacted by the club.
In the winter transfer window, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos both left the club, while David Luiz’s contract expires at the end of the season. It is also said that Calum Chambers is set to leave the club in the summer.
Under these circumstances, the Gunners are expected to attempt to bolster their defensive lines ahead of Mikel Arteta’s second full season in charge.
The Eintracht Frankfurt centre-back has a contract in Germany until 2023, so his club will not be in a hurry to sell, even though the financial lure for both the club and player could be too good to resist if the English club decides to make a move.
Evan N’Dicka: Will he fit into the Arsenal squad?
N’Dicka’s most impressive quality is his calmness, which he possesses both with and without the ball. He’s quick in the air, which comes as no surprise for a centre-back of his stature. He is admired for his speed and fitness as well.
N’Dicka’s passing skill is also a massive attraction for teams like Arsenal, who like to play out from the back and keep possession of the ball in tight spaces.
The 21-year-old is yet to reach his peak and has a decade of football to offer if his trajectory continues on an expected path. However, a transfer to a big club like Arsenal will pose a number of challenges for the relatively inexperienced lad, with the level of expectation expected to increase drastically. Also, Arsenal haven’t been the most stable side in recent years and the initiation might not be the smoothest if the move does materialise.
If Arteta would like to work with a young centre-back and help mould him into a world-class defender, then this deal will be the right opportunity for both the manager and the player. Arteta has shown good management skills in developing talents like Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and the likes. So, if Arsenal’s board trusts that Arteta could make Evan N’Dicka even better then they can consider this move.
However, N’Dicka will need a few more years to get to his full potential. If Arsenal are considering a move for the player for their future then, it is the right move. We do not think he can be a direct replacement to any of the starting eleven.
But, this summer addition of N’Dicka could be another step in the right path for the Gunners’ project led by Arteta, who is keen to make it big as a manager at the Emirates.