Connect in the back of the net
Facebook4
Twitter0
Google+0

Arsenal have the makings of a very strong defensive unit, with Petr Cech, Hector Bellerin and Laurent Koscielny all bringing plenty to the table.

Nacho Monreal also provides a pretty decent option at left-back, but the Gunners are crying out for another top-class central defender.

 

Jeison Murillo, the latest defensive target

If reports in the Daily Star are to be believed, then the club have identified Colombia international Jeison Murillo as the man to come in and partner Koscielny.

The 24-year-old only joined Inter Milan last summer, but he has quickly established himself as a key figure for the Italian giants:

Roberto Mancini’s men kept 13 clean sheets in Serie A when Murillo featured last term, conceding just once every 88 minutes, with these numbers looking remarkably similar to those put up by Koscielny in the Premier League.

Having spent two seasons turning out for Granada in La Liga, the strong and technical centre-back cannot be accused of lacking experience either:

 

Is he right for Arsenal? 

Murillo was one of the few bright lights in an underwhelming campaign for Mancini’s Inter Milan side, who started brightly but faded as their season wore on. He was one of the stars of the Serie A last season and impressed throughout, rarely putting a foot wrong alongside another bright light in on-loan Atletico defender Miranda.

Murillo certainly has the build, athleticism, and clearly the talent to succeed in the Premier League. One aspect he has over the man he’s likely to compete with, Mertesacker, is, well, pace. An attribute which the German isn’t in possession of and which has long been a cause for criticism, despite his good reading of the game and his reliable performances for the Gunners last season.

If the Colombian does sign and successfully adapts to the fast and physical nature of the Premier League, then I sense a very plausible displacement of the lanky German for a starting spot and thus a bright future ahead of him at Arsenal.

 

Value

His valuation, which is reportedly set at 20 million British Pounds, could be a turn-off. But with the performances he’s displayed at such a young age, just imagine what he could produce in a few years time.

I mean: Stones is worth reportedly over 50 million quid, so why should the Colombian’s valuation put Arsenal or any other club off? He seems worth the punt.

 

 

The post was written by the folks at Kickoff.co.uk

Like O-Posts on Facebook

You can also follow O-Posts on Twitter @OPosts