Arsenal have reportedly sent scouts to keep tabs on FC Porto midfielder Daniel Pereira. The scouts present at the match must have been mightily impressed when they saw Pereira smash in a volley from a corner to give Porto the lead just after five minutes.
The Portuguese international was an integral member of the national team that won the 2016 European Championships in France. The 26-year old midfielder has already earned 27 caps for the national team.
Pereira’s form has seen interest in him rise with English sides Arsenal and Manchester United keen on the Portuguese. Pereira is a midfield enforcer with a good tackling sense and the ability to play key passes in the final third. He is not exactly a goal scorer or an assist maker but he can make his midfield presence felt every time he is on the pitch.
The primary aspect of his game revolves around him snuffing out the attacks of the opposition. His strong physicality allows him to bully oppositions in both boxes. In his time at Porto, he has come up with 12 goals, not bad for a defensive midfielder.
Arsenal currently have a host of midfielders in Jack Wilshere, Granit Xhaka, Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey, Mohamed Elneny and young Joe Willock. While none of the midfielders have been able to make the headlines for the Gunners this season, there is still plenty to be hopeful about for the north London side.
Wilshere is finally showing glimpses of his true potential and Wenger is carefully bringing back his key midfielder into the grind. Should his development continue, he will be an asset to the club.
The case for Xhaka is little more confusing as he can be an absolute class on his day but a total disaster on others. A little more discipline to his game will definitely see Xhaka perform well enough to don the Arsenal jersey for years to come. Aaron Ramsey is definitely going to stay at the club as he still churns out impressive performances every now and then and Coquelin is there one true midfielder with genuine defensive qualities.
Amidst such quality, it does not make much sense for Arsenal to go in for Pereira who despite being a very good player will simply be not worth the money in the current transfer market, given Arsenal’s budget constraints. They will do better instead to save the Pereira money and invest it in bringing in a quality winger given the Alexis Sanchez situation.
