Benfica have reportedly set up an asking price of £35m (€40m) for their centre-back, Ruben Dias amid interests from Arsenal. Scouts from the North London said were spotted in the Estadio da Luz closely monitoring the 20-year-old along with a bunch of other players.
Dias is a product of the Benfica youth academy but spent his primitive years with his hometown club, C.F. Estrela da Amadora. The youngster was a big name in Benfica’s B team and helped them survive relegation in the 2015/16 season. He made his debut for the first team on 16th September 2017 against Boavista and has been a first-team regular ever since.
He was especially noticeable against Manchester United in the group stages of the Champions League and scored his first senior goal against Vitoria de Setubal in the Taca de Liga.
Overall he has managed to net the ball 4 times which is highly impressive for a defender but inconsequential to his primary role. Dias is coming onto his own with the Portuguese outfit and has shown signs of great maturity and composure at such a young age.
At 6 feet 1 inches tall, he fits the bill of modern centre-backs who are inclined to be more athletic than their predecessors. Dias’ ability to read the game is one of the traits which will catch the eye the scouts and will be a huge factor in his success over the years.
Arsenal’s defence, on the other hand, has been one of their worst enemies this season with Wenger struggling to adapt to the back three formation. The entire backline has looked more vulnerable than ever in recent times and currently holds the worst record of 41 goals conceded, among the top 6 in the Premier League.
Laurent Koscielny is only a shadow of his former self and has struggled to find his feet at the heart of the Gunners defence. Shkodran Mustafi is the best option in the backline but has lacked the cutting edge to really lead the side defensively. Calum Chambers and Rob Holding have been provided with an opportunity to prove themselves over the season but has looked vulnerable at times. The young duo is a huge part of the club’s future, but without consistency will have a tough time breaking into the starting XI.
Per Mertesacker’s retirement after this season will leave a gap in the club ranks in terms of leadership and experience and Wenger needs to bring in a competitive centre-half to take over the backline. Dias is a capable youngster who can be developed with a lot of first-team opportunities.
But with Chambers and Holding already in the side, Wenger should look towards a more experienced candidate, especially with more top-flight experience than Dias.
