According to Tuttosport, as cited by Talksport, Arsenal are interested in the services of Inter Milan centre-back Zinho Vanheusden. It is believed that the Gunners are in pole position to prise away the Belgian starlet, who is also courted by US Sassouolo.
Vanheusden was linked with a permanent move to Standard Liege, but that move has stalled following Arsenal’s interest. The defender’s current contract with Inter expires in 2022, and he could be available for somewhere around £18 million.
Vanheusden’s struggles at Inter
A product of the Standard Liege youth academy, Vanheusden moved to Inter Milan during the early stages of his career. And his impressive performances in the youth league saw him get promoted to the first-team in the summer of 2017.
However, the 19-year-old struggled to make a breakthrough during the first half of the 2017/18 campaign and was subsequently loaned out to Standard Liege in January 2018. And after a slow start, the youngster shined in his old club, notably making 21 appearances in the Jupiler Pro League in the recently concluded 2018/19 campaign.
Vanheusden’s performances at the back played a key role behind Les Rouges‘s third-placed finish in the league. But, he is still unlikely to be handed any opportunities to shine at Inter, especially after the appointment of Antonio Conte. Hence, a move away from San Siro makes sense.
What can Vanheusden bring to the table?
Vanheusden is advertised as a physically imposing defender, which makes sense given his massive 1.87m frame that makes him an intimidating presence at the back. It also makes him a threat from set-pieces, with the defender scoring a lot of goals with his head for the Inter Milan Primavera side.
Furthermore, the 19-year-old has a leadership quality about him. He isn’t a rash defender who would make a lot of defensive errors. On the contrary, he is a calm and composed operator and could be groomed into a world-class centre-back, if nurtured well.
Should Arsenal make a move for Vanheusden?
Vanheusden undoubtedly has immense potential. But, the fact that he failed to make a breakthrough in the Serie A, coupled with his lack of experience at the highest level of football could make the Belgian a relatively riskier option for Arsenal, especially when compared to someone like William Saliba.
The Frenchman enjoyed an excellent season in one of Europe’s top five leagues and is already considered as one of the most talented defenders in the country.
Vanheusden’s £18 million could also consume almost half of Unai Emery’s reported transfer kitty of only £40 million. Hence, the Gunners should drop their pursuit of this talented Inter Milan star and instead, focus on a more well-established individual.
