Arsenal have reportedly overtaken Premier League rivals Manchester United in the race to sign Atletico Madrid right-back Kieran Trippier.
According to the Sun, Manchester United have failed to agree a fee for the England international, opening the door for Arsenal to make their move.
The Gunners are on the lookout for a new right-back, with Hector Bellerin closing in on an exit this summer. Trippier has emerged as the North London club’s top priority. The 30-year-old has flourished under Diego Simeone the past couple of seasons, cementing his spot as the first-choice right back.
Tripper has made 68 appearances for Atletico Madrid in all competitions since his arrival from Tottenham Hotspur in 2019. He was instrumental in their La Liga triumph last season, chipping in with six assists in 28 games.
He was rewarded with a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2020, where he impressed in multiple positions and even provided the assist for Luke Shaw’s goal in the final.
Trippier has two years left on his current contract. Manchester United reportedly failed with a £20 million bid, and Arsenal will need to offer at least £34 million to prise him away from the Spanish champions.
Should Arsenal go all out for Kieran Trippier?
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is keen on adding fresh faces to his squad with a view to challenge for a top-four spot this season.
But at the same time, the Gunners are looking to build for the future. They have handed Emile Smith Rowe, 21, a new long-term contract, while also signing Albert Sambi Lokongo, 21, and Ben White, 23. Their need for a new right-back is pressing, but at 30 years of age, Kieran Trippier will definitely not feature in their long-term plans.
The Englishman, on paper, will be a huge upgrade on Arsenal’s current right-back options in Bellerin, Callum Chambers and Cedric Soares. He will also fit perfectly into Arsenal’s system.
The Gunners have relied heavily on crosses under Mikel Arteta, and that’s an aspect of Trippier’s game that stands out. He likes to bomb down the right flank and whip in crosses for his strikers to attack. Last season, Trippier averaged 53.2 passes, 1.2 key passes, 1.2 crosses and 2.4 long balls per game.
He has also honed his defensive game under Simeone at Atletico. Last season, Tripper averaged 2.2 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, and 1.7 clearances per game.
Moreover, he is versatile, has fantastic technical ability and is a threat from dead-ball situations. He will certainly strengthen Arsenal’s squad, but at £34 million, he is simply too expensive for someone who turns 31 next month. At best, he could provide Arsenal with a couple of good seasons after which he will have hardly any sell-on value.
Arsenal would be better off spending their money on a creative midfielder who can take their attack to a new level. The Gunners have been heavily linked with the likes of Bernardo Silva, Martin Odegaard and James Maddison in recent weeks and should prioritize a move for one of them over Trippier.
Stats via Whoscored
