According to Globo Esporte, Arsenal are among the clubs interested in the services of Coritiba defender Yan Couto. The Brazilian club are keen on sealing the sale of the young defender within the coming days, though he will remain at the club till June. Arsenal, however, are heavily contested by Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen in the pursuit of Couto.
Who is Yan Couto?
A product of the Coritiba youth academy, Couto has raised a lot of eyebrows with his performances in the Brazilian youth leagues. Being only 17, the defender is not a part of the Coritiba first-team, but his performances have attracted the interest of European clubs already.
A right-back by trade, Couto is known for his flair and quick-feet. His small 1.68m frame helps him retain balance when taking on defenders while his quick feet becomes useful when squeezing through tight spaces. He is essentially an attack-minded fullback, who can move forward and provide a lot of attacking support from the flanks.
Couto is also blessed with an incredible vision that helps him pick out stunning crosses from the far side. Moreover, he can finish the ball as well – making him a lethal right-back.
Defensively, the 17-year-old surely needs to improve as his small frame already gives him a huge disadvantage when it comes to physical and aerial duels. But, if he can improve his overall positioning, he could turn out to be a well-rounded fullback.
What should Arsenal do here?
Couto certainly seems like an interesting talent, having made quite an impact with his performances for the Brazilian U17 side. However, he is still yet to taste the competitive nature of professional football. Hence, it is complicated to judge as to whether or not he could be a viable target for Arsenal.
Therefore, the best option for Mikel Arteta will be to wait, even if it sees Leverkusen sealing his signature in this January transfer window. The Gunners are operating on a small budget this month, and they simply can’t afford to waste money on an unknown talent.
Instead, Arteta should really look to offload a couple of unwanted stars to fund a move for a prominent centre-back. Someone like Samuel Umtiti or Merih Demiral could turn out to be a viable option for the Gunners as they look to solve their defensive problems.
