Arsenal watching Tottenham Hotspur transfer target as doubt increases that Bacary Sagna will sign a new contract at Emirates Stadium.
With fears that Bacary Sagna will leave the club at the end of the season, Arsenal are watching Genoa right back Sime Vrsaljko.
France international Sagna is out of contract in June, and appears no closer to agreeing an extension to his current deal – despite the Gunners impressive start to the campaign.
Sagna has previously expressed a desire for Arsenal to show ambition, and with the signing of Mesut Ozil for £42.5m there is a real case that Arsene Wenger has illustrated that resolve, with the Gunners also top of the table going into the international break.
Vrsaljko already has seven caps for Croatia at just 21 years of age, and has demonstrated admirable ability in both defence and going forward.
The Genoa star plays almost as a wing back for the Croatia side, and his vision on the ball is impressive for someone who is nominally a defender.
Spells at right wing and in central midfield are likely the reason behind that, and Vrsaljko has improved a great deal at Genoa, who he joined last summer despite interest from Inter Milan, Olympique de Marseille and Gunners rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
“If I’d joined a ‘big’ club I probably wouldn’t have had much playing time,” explained Vrsaljko to Genovese paper Il Secolo XIX.
“This is a good team. There are young talented players, who are ambitious like me.”
The same could certainly be said of Arsenal, with Arsene Wenger renowned for his willingness to give youth a chance.
The Daily Mirror estimate that Vrsaljko would cost around €15 million (approximately £12.5m).
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