Arsenal are keeping close tabs on Bayer Leverkusen’s blossoming youngster, Panagiotis Retsos, as per one of the latest reports by Goal. The north London based outfit is apparently desirous to strengthen their back line in the summer and have been tracking Retsos, who moved to the ranks of the German Bundesliga side in the summer of 2017 from Olympiakos for a fee of around €22million.
There is no denying that Arsenal have not been really convincing this season under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger. In all fairness, they seem to be out of the race of the top-four spots and thus, they need to clinch the Europa League to make it to the Champions League next season. The Gunners are due to face CSKA Moscow a few days later in the quarter-finals of the European competition.
One of the major issues with Wenger’s side this season has been the lack of adequate resilience from their defence. The back line has been timorous against top quality sides and they have left a lot to be desired. Irrespective of whether Wenger stays at the Emirates Stadium next season or not, defensive reinforcements in the summer would be crucial for their future endeavours.
Retsos is unarguably one of the hottest properties in the game. The 19-year-old is capable enough to operate as a right-back, left-back, as well as a centre-back and his versatility is his strongest suit. He is very effective in the air and is more than capable of creating problems for the oppositions aerially. Despite his young age, he keeps a fine balance and composure and no wonder why his stocks are highly rated.
Besides, Retsos has showcased his ability to read the game effectively and is someone isn’t afraid of crunch situations. He has garnered 21 appearances in the German top-flight so far this season and has collected 3 assists. Besides, he has made 1.6 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 1.5 clearances and 0.3 blocks per game on an average and has been more than a handy asset for his club.
However, there are many areas he needs to improvise upon such as his ability to hold the ball and pass it at the right time, crossing and discipline. Moreover, he lacks the experience of English football and would take some time to adjust to it if the move materializes. Nonetheless, the Greece international is a really talented player and it would be intriguing to see whether Arsenal secure his signature in the summer or not.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored
