Report: Arsenal line up Twente star Rosales to replace Sagna

Arsenal have reportedly lined up FC Twente defender Roberto Rosales as a potential replacement for Bacary Sagna should the Frenchman leave the club next summer, according to reports in Daily Mail.

Sagna is in the final year of his contract and is yet to agree terms over an extension and manager Arsene Wenger is now on the lookout for a replacement if the Frenchman fails to sign on the dotted line.

The report states that the Gunners scouts have been impressed with the right-back and he has been added to the list of potential new recruits to cover for the loss of Sagna.

The Venezuelan right back has been in impressive form for his club this season and has contributed to the sides defensive record which has conceded only five goals so far this term for table-topping Twente.

The 24 year old joined Twente from Gent in 2010 and has gone on to make 83 appearances for the club as well as achieving 41 caps for his national side. He was also the first Venezuelan player to score a Champions League goal when he scored against Tottenham.

He is versatile and can play at right-back, right wing and left-back and is adept at getting forward and supporting the attack, whilst also being solid defensively. He isn’t very tall, standing at just 5 ft 7 in, but he possesses good pace, whilst he constantly marauds down the flanks without tiring, overlapping wingers to great effect. But Twente aren’t going to give him up without a fight and are understood to be lining up a new contract offer.

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The Gunners are also reportedly tracking other defenders with the likes of Barcelona’s Martin Montoya, Genoa’s Croatian international Sime Vrsaljko and Seabstian Corchia of Sochaux reportedly on Wenger’s wishlist.

The talks with Sagna are on going from the past few months but there has been no progress. He will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement in January and with the likes of Monaco and PSG said to be interested, there’s no wonder Arsene Wenger is drawing up a list of targets in case the Frenchman opts to leave in the summer.

I think Sagna deserves a new contract. He has been in excellent form this season and has proved that he deserves the extension and we have Carl Jenkinson already waiting in the wings to take over his role. However if the French international doesn’t sign then Rosales will be a good option to go for but I think we should go for an experienced replacement.

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