Fansided

5 possible defenders for Arsenal to target this summer

By Kevin Parvizi

Unai Emery manager of Arsenalduring during English Premier League between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Wembley stadium, in London, England on 2 Mar 2019. (Photo by Action Foto Sport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Unai Emery manager of Arsenalduring during English Premier League between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Wembley stadium, in London, England on 2 Mar 2019. (Photo by Action Foto Sport/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 27: (L-R) Samuel Umtiti of FC Barcelona, Jordi Alba of FC Barcelona during the Spanish Copa del Rey match between FC Barcelona v Levante at the Camp Nou on April 27, 2019 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 27: (L-R) Samuel Umtiti of FC Barcelona, Jordi Alba of FC Barcelona during the Spanish Copa del Rey match between FC Barcelona v Levante at the Camp Nou on April 27, 2019 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by Erwin Spek/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

Samuel Umtiti

While Dayot Upamecano is the best realistic option for Arsenal in this summer’s transfer window, Samuel Umtiti is the best possible option overall. It says a lot that FC Barcelona may be ready to sell the French star this summer ahead of interest in Ajax’s Matthijs de Ligt, because most clubs would be honored to have a player of Umtiti’s quality.

But Clement Lenglet now starts ahead of Umtiti in the Barcelona lineup, getting the brunt of the minutes alongside veteran Gerard Pique. Umtiti is a world-class center back in his own right and would immediately be one of Arsenal’s best players if purchased.

For Arsenal, the biggest roadblock to signing isn’t just the potential 70 million euro price tag. Per AS, Umtiti also doesn’t seem willing to move Barcelona this summer despite all of the rumors.

That said, Arsenal fans should continue to monitor the rumor mill for any updates regarding his status. Still just 25, Umtiti is a game-changing talent who could have a bounce-back season at a new club. He may also be frustrated at receiving under 1,200 minutes for Barcelona last season.

A strong player in the air who reads the game nearly as well as Upamecano, Umtiti has faced the absolute best players in the world as a defender for Barcelona and France, where he’s been even more successful. Emery could be a good fit for Umtiti as a manager, and he and Koscielny would form a strong, familiar center back pairing.

This move would be highly unlikely, but there’s nothing wrong with hoping.

Home/Premier League