Thursday, November 7, 2024

Spanish Journalist: Arsenal Could Replace Mertesacker With Mexican Defender

Arsenal look like they may have a new defensive target lined up, if Spanish journalist Kike Marin is to be believed.

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Kike has a mixed track record in terms of Arsenal news but he has been well informed in the past. He works for Spanish outlet El Confidencial.

Kike says PSV defender Hector Moreno is ‘one of the options’ for Arsenal, as they look to recruit a new central defender before their first game of the season in two weeks time.

Wenger is pretty confident that the club will get a new defender in in the next 14 days and Moreno fits the criteria of being ‘experienced’. According to Kike, Wenger had been a fan of Moreno during his time at Espanyol and he has remained on the radar of the Frenchman since.

Last summer Moreno left the Spanish club to join PSV in Holland for just €5million. That indicates that Arsenal could probably pick Moreno up for less than £10million this summer, making the Mexican with 70 caps a good value option.

Wenger has long-term faith in Rob Holding, Calum Chambers and Krystian Bielik but he acknowledges the club need an injection of quality and experience in defence following the long term injury sustained by Per Mertesacker.

Moreno is an experienced defender at 28 years old and he has played in many leagues and against many nations. He is good on the ball and would fit the ball playing style that Arsenal are looking to recruit for. One concern is that he is not great in the air, he is not the dominant force that many Arsenal fans would like to see arrive.

It is worth noting that Moreno’s agent is Mino Raiola, a man who is about to be paid more than £15million for transferring Paul Pogba from Juventus to Manchester United. Raiola loves the cash and it’s hard to see Arsenal wanting to deal with him, although the Gunners did sign Malen, a young Dutch forward also managed by Raiola.

I’m sure Arsenal are interested in a number of defenders as they look to bring someone in, but it is intriguing to see Moreno linked as one of those options. How would you feel if he were the one to arrive? Have your say by commenting below.

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