Arsenal have sensationally returned to the Premier League ‘top four’ race and a place in next season’s Champions League would undoubtedly boost them up in their quest to reclaim lost glory.
According to reports from the Independent, Unai Emery is eyeing five new signings this summer with David Alaba being one of them. The Bayern Munich ace is one of those who might be offloaded following the announcement of Lucas Hernandez’s arrival for a club record fee of €80m.
The 26-year-old Austrian joined the Bavarians back in 2008 from Austria Wien and blossomed through their youth ranks before breaking into the senior side as a teenager. He has made more than 300 appearances for the Bundesliga big boys securing a left-back role in spite of his ability to feature in multiple slots across the field.
Alaba is effective down the wings, as a central midfielder, deep-lying playmaker as well as a centre-half, but the signing of Hernandez would jeopardise his starting role in a star-studded Bayern squad. The player should consider a summer move to experience a new challenge elsewhere.
Although there have been rumours of Barcelona’s interest, a switch to Camp Nou might see him competing with Jordi Alba who has been standout as well as consistent for years in the Barca setup. However, the project at Arsenal should be fascinating for the Austria international as he would not only be handed a key role but also a star status in an evolving squad.
Alaba grew up an Arsenal fan and kept the doors open for a potential Premier League move in the near future. This has fueled the speculations even more, and Barcelona’s priority of strengthening other areas has now handed the Gunners a massive uplift in roping in the Bayern sensation.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have a crisis at the back and often been seen deploying Nacho Monreal in a three-man defence. The 33-year-old left-back would probably settle in a more central role with time, and the North Londoners would prefer to have a more dynamic option down the left flank as an upgrade to Sead Kolasinac. The Bosnian, a Bosman recruit from Schalke, has failed to live up to expectations and the Gunners should welcome a player of Alaba’s stature to enhance the odds of re-establishing themselves as a European powerhouse.
