With just eight matches remaining in the Premier League, Arsenal will have one eye on the coming summer. The club will lose several first-team players including Aaron Ramsey, Petr Cech and Danny Welbeck. Where will the Gunners look to add quality to their squad?
Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Martinelli and Thuram Linked
Marcus Thuram
Guingamp have had a season to forget. They currently sit in 18th in Ligue 1, the relegation play-off place, but have dropped as far as the bottom of the league this season. One bright spot has been Marcus Thuram, son of French legend Lilian Thuram.
The 21-year-old has 11 goals in 29 appearances this season. Thuram stands an imposing 6’2″ yet still possesses wonderful agility, pace and technical ability not often seen in taller players. This versatility has made him invaluable to Guingamp this season, playing both on the wings and as a striker.
Thuram would, therefore, be a perfect addition for Unai Emery. The club will likely lose Danny Welbeck at the end of the season, meaning they will need cover for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
Arsenal are also short on width. The full-backs and wing-backs have been relied upon to provide options out wide for the Gunners, who have a dearth of traditional wingers. Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan can play out wide but prefer more central roles.
Thuram is also entering the final year of his contract. With Guingamp likely heading down to Ligue 2 next season, he is unlikely to sign fresh terms with the French side. However, Borussia Dortmund are known admirers of the player and Arsenal would face stiff competition for Marcus Thuram from the Bundesliga side.
Gabriel Martinelli
Another forward the club are linked with is the young Brazilian wonderkind Gabriel Martinelli. The 17-year-old plays for Ituano in his native country. Arsenal previously tabled a £5 million bid for the player, which was rejected.
With the Gunners in need of attacking support this summer, Martinelli again finds himself linked with a move to north London. The striker previously had trials at both Manchester United and Barcelona, but no move materialised from either.
One stumbling block could be related to visas. Martinelli is currently a Brazilian citizen, although is in the process of applying for Italian citizenship. Such a move would make any European transfer much easier.
Nicolas Tagliafico
26-year-old Argentine Nicolas Tagliafico has previously been linked with a move to Arsenal. While he is not as young as he once was, Tagliafico still has plenty of football to play and could replace Nacho Monreal, at least for a few years.
Currently plying his trade at Ajax, the left-back has been compared to Javier Zanetti, due to his work ethic and technical ability. Tagliafico averages 2.3 tackles, 2.1 interceptions and 1.6 clearances per match in the Eredivisie this season, making him a sort of defensive specialist.
This would make him the yin to Sead Kolasinac‘s yang, as the Bosnian is a much more efficient attacker than defender. However, the major issue in this transfer would be the price tag.
Ajax have stated they want £15 million for the player. With Arsenal’s summer transfer budget reliant on a Champions League return, they may wish to look for a younger, cheaper option. This is especially true now that Kolasinac has found his form.
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