Arsenal are in a three-way race with Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool for Torino full-back Wilfried Singo.
The Ivory Coast international has a contract at Torino until the summer of 2023, meaning the Serie A outfit could be forced to sell this summer in order to yield maximum profit. It is understood he could be sold for as little as £15million at the end of the ongoing Serie A campaign.
According to CBS Sports, Arsenal have scouted Torino’s Wilfried Singo on a number of occasions and could make a move for him in the summer. But they will face competition from Tottenham and Liverpool, with the former eyeing a new right-back, the report adds.
Singo, 21, one of the exciting young full-back talents in Europe, has performed admirably well under Torino manager Ivan Jurić. He has shown impressive form in the Serie A this season, bagging three goals and four assists in 25 games so far.
Torino may have blown hot and cold but the Ivorian’s performances have caught the attention of three Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, ahead of the summer transfer window.
Wilfried Singo to Arsenal—Should the Gunners plot a summer swoop?
Takehiro Tomiyasu arrived at Arsenal as one of the six new signings last summer, joining from Bologna in a £19.8m deal. The Japanese international has settled in seamlessly at the Emirates Stadium, making the right-back spot his own. Recent injury problems may have seen him lose his spot in the starting XI, but overall Tomiyasu has made a great impact in his debut Premier League season.
Following Tomiyasu’s signing, Arsenal allowed Hector Bellerin to join Real Betis on loan. But the January departures of Calum Chambers and Ainsley Maitland-Niles to Aston Villa and AS Roma respectively has left Mikel Arteta with only Tomiyasu and Cedric Soares as right-back options.
Cedric has flattered to deceive since arriving from Southampton two years and could be sold in the summer, which will open up a full-back spot in the Arsenal squad. Thus, the Gunners’ interest in Wilfried Singo makes sense.
Singo has majorly operated as a right midfielder/right wing-back in Ivan Juric’s 3-4-2-1 system at Torino, providing plenty of energy, width and attacking impetus. So, the transition from operating purely as a wing-back to full-back may not be easy for such a young player, but he has the qualities to shine at Arsenal.
The four-cap Ivory Coast international is a quick, dynamic and industrious player who can initially come in at Arsenal to play second-fiddle to Tomiyasu. With age, time and experience, he would be ready to go toe-to-toe with Tomiyasu in order to make the right-back spot his own. The 21-year-old would also add more depth for the Gunners to compete in different competitions next season.
Wilfried Singo perfectly fits the profile of players Arsenal have targeted under Arteta. And for a reported £15million, he could prove to be a wise long-term investment for the north London giants.
