According to Express, Arsenal are interested in the services of Daniele Rugani as they look to reshape their defensive unit. The Juventus defender is expected to leave the club following the arrival of Matthijs de Ligt, putting the Gunners on red alert. Rugani’s current contract at Juve expires in 2023.
Rugani’s struggles at Juventus
A product of the Empoli youth academy, Rugani moved to Juventus for a fee of €5 million back in 2015. However, he has never really managed to make himself a first-team regular for the Bianconeri, as the Italian side have consistently relied on the services of experienced defenders such as Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.
Those two are still expected to play a key role for the Italian champions next season despite nearing the final phase of their respective careers. Additionally, Juventus have added Dutch sensation de Ligt to their ranks while they are also unwilling to sell Merih Demiral.
Rugani is yet to muster over 2,000 minutes of league football in any of his four seasons in Turin. And with so much competition in the defensive department, it’s unlikely that is going to change anytime soon. Hence, a move away from Allianz Stadium makes sense for the Italian international.
Where does Rugani fit into the Arsenal setup?
Arsenal are poised to complete a €30 million swoop for St. Etienne defender William Saliba. However, the Frenchman is expected to be shipped back to the Ligue 1 on loan for another season. That means Rugani is guaranteed to become a first-team regular for Arsenal next season, especially with Laurent Koscielny keen to leave the club.
The Frenchman refused to train with the team earlier this summer and is closing in on a move to Rennes. Besides, Shkodran Mustafi is unlikely to play a key role following a horrendous campaign last season. As for the young defensive duo of Rob Holding and Konstantinos Mavrapanos, they have struggled with injuries, of late.
Rugani, therefore, will form the central defensive pairing with Sokratis at the heart of Arsenal’s four-man backline. But, with the latter reportedly seeking a move away from Emirates, Holding could be groomed into a potential starter next season.
Will Rugani be a good investment for the Gunners?
Rugani clearly hasn’t played a great deal of football within the past few years. But, he is undoubtedly one of the most talented centre-halves in Italy. He can play the ball out from the back while boasting excellent composure and positional awareness. And these are the qualities that could complement the more robust nature of Sokratis, thus adding another dimension to the Arsenal backline.
The Juventus defender also has time on his side, at the age of 24. That means he could prove to be an excellent long-term investment for the North London giants.
