According to Sky Sports, Arsenal has been linked with 20-year-old defensive midfielder Boubakary Soumare from Lille. However, Real Madrid is leading the race for his signature.
The Gunners have reportedly looked into the prospects of signing a midfielder. With that, here is why Soumare would be a perfect fit for Arsenal.
Why Arsenal Should Sign Boubakary Soumare
He Can Sort out Their Midfield Struggles
Over the past decade, the Gunners have been vulnerable in the defensive midfield department. Furthermore, not only have they been linked with plenty of quality players in that position, they even have the likes of Lucas Torreira in the side right now.
The void left by Patrick Vieira is one that they’ve struggled to fill for years. Lucas Torreira has been very impressive in that role, but he can’t play every game. There has to be depth in such a physically commanding position.
Soumare would make sure that much of the slack is off of Torreira. Furthermore, the duo can even play together as central midfielders, with Mesut Ozil in front of them.
He Brings Physicality to a Weakened Arsenal Side
There is no denying that Arsenal has not only the talent but the physicality to compete in the Premier League. However, the club’s players are not near the level of the fun-to-watch, yet powerful, Invincibles from 2003/04.
A cheaper alternative for the centre-midfield role would be Adrien Rabiot from Juventus. This could prove costly. It can be debated whether or not he can physically withstand the Premier League similarly to the likes of Lucas Torreira or Matteo Guendouzi.
Soumare would ensure this issue is at least somewhat solved. He could sure up the role and drive his midfield partners and forwards in front of him to create goals.
The One Big Con: His Price Tag
There is no doubt that in today’s market, transfer fees have become ludicrously high. Many young players are having insane release clauses set upon them. Players such as Jadon Sancho, for example, would only leave Borussia Dortmund if a club were to pay a price upwards of over €100-million.
Soumare isn’t worth that much, but he is no cheap bargain.
His price tag at the moment is around €50-million. Plus, it is well known that Arsenal isn’t a club to spend heavy in most transfer windows.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe have become key players at the Emirates Stadium, and have been bought for higher, record-breaking prices during seasons in which Arsenal splashed the cash before their arrival.
Soumare could be the next young talent added to that list, and if Stan Kroenke somehow musters up the money, and more, the Gooners could well see a new dynamic assert itself into the side.
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