According to Tuttomercatoweb, Arsenal have been monitoring the progress of Dejan Kulusevski for a few months now. The Atalanta winger, who currently plays at Parma on loan, has impressed the onlookers with his impressive performances. As a result, he is also courted by Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are even ready to make a €15m move for him in January.
Kulusevski’s rapid rise to prominence
Kulusevski is originally a product of IF Brommapojkarma youth academy in his native Sweden. But, he moved to Atalanta in 2016 in search of making a breakthrough in one of the best footballing leagues in the world. The winger moved through the ranks pretty quickly and was promoted to the U-19 side in the summer.
However, he was shockingly shipped to Parma on loan by manager Gian Piero Gasperini. And it later proved out to be a silly error from the Atalanta manager has Kulusevski has been in excellent form in this new season.
The 19-year-old has already been involved in seven goals in just 11 league matches for Parma so far. That means he had a part to play in almost half of the club’s goals in Serie A this term, which is pretty incredible for a winger.
Nevertheless, Kulusevski’s fiery performances have attracted the interest of a host of top across Europe, and it won’t be surprising to see the youngster leaving Italy in January.
What can he bring to the table?
A right-winger by trade, Kulusevski is known for his technical prowess that lets him link-up with his teammates in tight spaces. He is proficient at playing one-touch football. This is mainly why almost all of his created chances have originated from short passes rather than set-pieces or crosses.
Besides that, the Swede boasts an imposing 1.86m frame that can give him a slight advantage in terms of physical duels. But most importantly, he can swiftly drift past opposing defenders, thanks to his quick feet. Hence, it comes as no surprise that the winger has completed 2.4 dribbles per game with a success rate of 64%.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
Should Arsenal make a move for Kulusevski?
Investing in Kulusevski might turn out to be a risk from Arsenal’s perspective for multiple reasons. The Gunners could be on the verge of a potential rebuild if Unai Emery gets sacked before the January transfer window.
It won’t be far-fetched to think that Arsenal might be financially crippled after spending a fortune in the summer. Hence, spending €15m in an experienced winger is a luxury the Gunners can’t afford right now, especially when they have to sign a defender first.
And most importantly, the attack is not an issue for Arsenal. The north London giants have already got the likes of Mesut Ozil, Nicolas Pepe and Reiss Nelson among many others. Therefore, they should instead focus on other areas where they really need improving.
