According to The Sun, Arsenal are monitoring the progress of Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Willy Boly. The 28-year-old has been identified as a potential target, and a £20 million move could be on the table. Wolves, however, will try their best to keep hold of their star defender, even though they would get an opportunity of making a swift £10 million profit.
Boly’s success at Wolverhampton
Boly initially joined Wolverhampton back in 2017, in a season-long loan deal from FC Porto. After a successful debut campaign in England, where he helped the Wolves gain promotion to the top flight, his move was made permanent last summer for a fee of £10 million.
The Frenchman enjoyed another successful campaign last season, helping his club secure qualification for the UEFA Europa League. He built a solid defensive combination with Ryan Bennett and Conor Coady – making Wolves become one of the best defensive sides in the league.
As a matter of fact, Wolves conceded only 46 goals – a tally bettered only by the top four clubs in Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. Boly also scored four goals, making him one of the most prolific defenders in the league.
What can Boly bring to the table?
Boly is a sturdy defender, whose physical and aerial prowess makes him an intimidating figure in the backline. The Frenchman is fully capable of stopping counterattacks by making well-timed tackles.
But most importantly, he has a knack for scoring goals, having already netted eight goals during his ongoing spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Boly is a good passer of the ball as well – making him a well-rounded centre-back.
Do Arsenal really need Boly?
Boly will be a cost-effective option in Arsenal’s bid to add more quality to their defence. And that makes sense given the enormous amount of money they had spent in the summer transfer window. Besides, with the pending arrival of William Saliba next summer, it’s perhaps wiser for Gunners not to spend too much money on a centre-back in the upcoming January transfer window.
As for Arsenal’s need for a centre-back at the moment, both Sokratis and David Luiz have failed to provide any stability this season. And while Shkodran Mustafi and the returning Rob Holding have done well in the cup matches, it remains a doubt as to whether or not they will be able to replicate those performances in the Premier League.
Therefore, Boly is a viable target for Arsenal. The Frenchman can provide competition to the defensive department and ultimately enhance the overall quality of the backline.
