Arsenal are planning a move for teenage River Plate defender Emanuel Mammana, according to The Telegraph, and will hope to beat arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the player’s signature.
The newspaper claim that Mammana, an Argentine U-20 international, has been scouted by Mauricio Pochettino but that Arsene Wenger is considering a bid for a player considered to have a bright future in the game.
The likes of Juventus and Atletico Madrid – who know a good defender when they see one – are also mentioned among clubs looking to prize Mammana away from his native country.
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Due to his tender age, it is difficult to see Wenger bringing a defender who can’t make an instant contribution to the squad over the coming seasons – especially given that the 19 year-old is unlikely to qualify for a work permit.
Calum Chambers was brought in last year and despite showing promise, it is clear to see that he isn’t ready to consistently produce for us at the highest level.
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In addition, despite a hugely encouraging debut campaign, Hector Bellerin is quite inexperienced at the back, and new signing Gabriel will need time to adapt too. It’s hard to see us signing a further defender who wouldn’t be able to slot in immediately.
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