According to a recent report by Sport, Arsenal has identified RCD Espanyol defender Mario Hermoso as a potential target for the summer transfer window. The same source has revealed that the Gunners boss Unai Emery wants to bring the £18m-rated centre-back to the Emirates Stadium at the end of this campaign to replace Shkodran Mustafi, who is playing on borrowed time at North London.
However, Sport is also reporting that the Premier League side will face stiff competition from Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in pursuit of the La Liga defensive ace this summer. The 23-year-old has enjoyed a solid season with Espanyol as he managed to guide his team to an impressive 7th placed finish in the Spanish top-flight standings.
The Recent Emergence Of Mario Hermoso
The former Real Madrid youth prodigy has put in some commanding displays at the back under Rubi’s stewardship during the recently concluded La Liga campaign. Hermoso has featured in 35 matches for the Spanish outfit this term and has three goals to his name across all competitions.
More importantly, he has made an average of 1.2 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 5.2 clearances per game in the top tier of Spain so far (Stats taken from Whoscored). The Espanyol centre-half has also earned two international for Spain so he will be motivated to improve his game further in the coming years.
What Will The Spanish Talent Add To Emery’s Team?
Hermoso boasts incredible pace, which enables him to recover in 1v1 situations when left isolated with his marker in his own half. He is also aerially dominant due to his remarkable upper body strength. The Spaniard can also make some crucial last-ditch clearances for his team. However, he cannot play the ball out from the back which won’t suit Emery’s style of play at the Emirates.
Should The Gunners Sign Hermoso?
The addition of a reliable defender like Hermoso will significantly bolster Emery’s defensive options at the North London club. He will be a great upgrade over Shkodran Mustafi who has experienced a miserable campaign with the Gunners thus far.
Furthermore, Hermoso will also add some much-needed depth to the Arsenal squad and has the potential to become a star in the Premier League if he can cope with the physical toll of English football. Thus, Emery should do everything in his power to recruit the Spanish centre-back ahead of the new season.
