According to a recent report by Calciomercato, Arsenal have set their sights on Merih Demiral in the upcoming January transfer window. So much so, they are willing to part ways with Hector Bellerin in an attempt to sign the Juventus defender. It is believed that both the players have a similar valuation, meaning a straight swap is quite imaginable. In this article, we will discuss why this swap deal could prove to be beneficial for the Gunners.
Bellerin’s struggles at Arsenal
Bellerin has never really managed to hit the heights of the 2014/15 and 2015/16 campaign when he had initially made his breakthrough in professional football. His progress has mainly been halted due to several fitness problems, especially in recent years. The Spaniard most notably suffered an ACL injury that kept him out for a total of eight months.
The right-back returned to full fitness earlier this season. But, he has failed to replicate the same level of pace and enthusiasm that was evident in his earlier performances at Arsenal. Moreover, the defender has looked incredible sloppy at the back and has shown a poor sense of positioning, allowing the opposition to make runs in behind the defence.
Although Bellerin’s absence would create a huge void in the right-back department, the Gunners still have Calum Chambers and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. None of these two defenders are actually reliable. So the north London giants can always look to the January transfer window and sign a replacement.
Is Demiral the ideal target?
It might not be a bad idea for Arsenal to offload Bellerin in January. But, they must make sure that Demiral is worth every penny as he is the one who is forcing the Gunners to get rid of the Spaniard.
Demiral is considered as one of the most talented defenders in the Serie A, having enjoyed an excellent campaign with US Sassouolo. However, the Turkish international has failed to make a huge impact under Maurizio Sarri this season and is tipped to leave Juve in January.
Even though he is not a proficient ball-playing defender, he is certainly better than the likes of Sokratis and David Luiz when it comes to playing the ball out from the back.
Defensively, Demiral is known for his commitment and focus, which makes him an ideal signing for the Gunners. These qualities would undoubtedly add more steel to the Arsenal backline that has looked incredibly susceptible this season. Hence, the club should look to make this swap deal happen at any cost next month.
