If reports are to be believed, then North London side Arsenal are now eyeing a move for FC Porto’s star winger Yacine Brahimi. The Algerian winger has been one of the most sought-after forwards in the transfer market over the last few seasons with numerous Premier League giants keeping tabs, and Arsenal could finally break the stagnancy this time.
The Gunners are in the market for a potential winger, who could give competition to the likes of The Walcott and Alexis Sanchez on the flanks. Although Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been one of the regular deputies to take those places, the Englishman has time and again reiterated his desire to play in the central midfield.
And his next contract extension with the club, if that happens, would hinge primarily on the club promising him more game time in his preferred position. The other backup in that position has been Lucas Perez, who had joined the club from La Liga last summer. But, he has failed to impress the manager and his reducing game time meant he is on his way out of the club now.
A number of other targets are on Arsene Wenger’s priority list, which includes the likes of in-form Kylian Mbappe and Brahimi’s compatriot Riyad Mahrez. However, a move for the Porto man could come in for cheap following the underwhelming season he had last term. Despite having a hefty release clause of £52.5million, his poor season could see Arsenal get him for less.
He could score only seven goals and provide four assists last term, and it also saw his game time on all fronts decreasing to just 31. However, it is his versatility in the attacking third that makes him a hot prospect among many clubs.
Usually a left winger, Brahimi can play as the striker as well as a central playmaker with equal ease. Wenger has experimented with Sanchez, Walcott, Giroud, Danny Welbeck and even Lucas Perez last season in the centre-forward role, with not many positive results. Brahimi’s addition could see his problems getting solved.
A youth product of Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais FC, he broke into the first time in 2009. To boost his progress, he was loaned off to some lower tier sides in France like Clermont Foot Auvergne 63 and La Liga side Granada. After impressing in Spain for a year, Porto took him in 2014.
His strong figure and pace on the ball make him an unstoppable player on the flanks, who goes up and down outmuscling his opponents. A player of his attributes could be immensely helpful in pressurising opponents.
