According to Moroccan news outlet AS Sahifa, Arsenal have tabled an official bid to sign Leganes forward Youssef En-Nesyri. The Moroccan starlet has impressed the onlookers with his remarkable offensive display during the 2018/19 campaign. As a result, he is courted by the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Schalke, Arsenal and Real Betis this summer.
However, the report claims that Arsenal are not the only one to have submitted a bid for En-Nesyri, with Betis having already tabled an offer in excess of €10 million.
En-Nesyri’s excellent campaign at Leganes
En-Nesyri joined Leganes in a €6 million move from Malaga last summer. And the forward has since become a vital part of Los Pepineros attack, having been involved in 11 goals in 31 league matches. Quite astonishingly that is almost one-third of the total amount of goals Leganes have scored as a whole during the 2018/19 campaign.
Hence, it’s probably fair to say that En-Nesyri’s services in front of goal have been crucial to Leganes’ mid-table finish in the league.
What can En-Nesyri bring to the table?
En-Nesyri’s style of play can be compared to West Ham star Andriy Yarmolenko. A tall striker, who can operate anywhere across the final third, including the wide-attacking roles. The Moroccan loves to take on defenders. He has notably attempted two dribbles per game this past season, which is quite impressive for a striker.
Aside from that, En-Nesyri has a physical stature about him, mainly due to his tall 189cm frame. And this allows him to impose his presence against defenders and ideally keep hold of the ball even under tight pressure. His nimble footwork also enables him to beat defenders and adds an element of surprise to his dribbling method.
He is quite competent in the air, as you would expect from anyone of his stature. Indeed, the 22-year-old has won 147 headed duels – a tally only bettered by Guido Carrillo in the Leganes team during the 2018/19 campaign.
Should Arsenal go all out to sign En-Nesyri?
As the above points suggest, En-Nesyri is someone who could be tailor-made for the physically demanding nature of the Premier League. And given the fact that the Moroccan forward has also proved his productivity in front of goal, he could be a viable option for Arsenal.
The Gunners are already running a bit shallow in the offensive department that has appeared overreliant on the services of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette. En-Nesyri, to that end, could provide additional back-up for these two star forwards.
The Leganes starlet can also feature on the wings, which could benefit Unai Emery given the lack of natural wingers in Arsenal’s offensive unit. And at the age of just 22, En-Nesyri could be a smart piece of investment for the Gunners.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
