According to the Metro, Arsenal are chasing Freiburg’s young defensive midfielder Matthias Ginter and could look to use Francis Coquelin as a makeweight.
Arsene Wenger is reportedly an admirer of the German U21 international who was an important cog in Freiburg’s fifth-place finish in the Bundesliga last season. He became the clubs youngest Bundesliga goalscorer when he scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over FC Augsburg in January last year (two days before he turned 18), and went on to start 21 matches for the Bavarian outfit last season.
He signed his first professional contract shortly after his goal-scoring debut, tying him to the club until 2015 however Freiburg will have a tough time holding onto the startlet who has represented Germany at U18, U19 & U21 levels with Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal in pursuit of the talented midfielder.
The report has suggested the German side are looking for around the £6million mark, and the Gunners may well be the front runners after successfully negotiating the season-long loan of the defensive-minded Francis Coquelin who has failed to make the grade at Emirates so far.
With Wenger requiring a defensive midfielder, Ginter could be one for the future and become Arsenal’s own versatile Sergio Busquets. Marouane Fellaini is believed to be the main midfield target, however rumours have dropped recently with the Gunners perhaps struggling to finance the deal for the expensive, however experienced and established Belgian.
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So should Arsenal move for Ginter? The youngster is not that well known to Gooners however he has the potential to become a big player in the future. Coquelin is eager for playing time especially now that he is 22-years-old and could potentially seek a move away from Arsenal next summer, perhaps he could be used to persuade Freiburg to depart with their talented starlet?
If Wenger manages to poach the young defensive midfielder this summer then he could be loaned back to Germany to develop, but for the time being he should not be Arsenal’s transfer priority, Fellaini seems to be the answer to our holding midfield woes. There is not too much substance in the Ginter rumours just yet, but it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.
What do you think Gooners? Comment below..
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