According to Area Napoli, Arsenal are among the clubs looking to make a move for Evan N’Dicka. The Eintracht Frankfurt defender has attracted a host of interest from clubs across Europe including Inter Milan, Sevilla and Valencia. However, it is Arsenal that hold the edge due to their strong relationship with N’Dicka’s entourage. The player reportedly has a valuation of €25 million.
N’Dicka’s spell in the Bundesliga
N’Dicka joined Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2018. He was brought in from AJ Auxerre for a fee of €5.5 million to boost the Eintracht defence. And the Frenchman didn’t disappoint either, making quite a mark during the 2018/19 campaign. He appeared in 27 league matches, becoming a vital member of the Eintracht backline.
The emergence of Martin Hinteregger, however, halted N’Dicka’s progress during the first phase of the campaign. But, he once again became a first-team regular for Adi Hutter’s men and has already featured in 15 Bundesliga matches.
N’Dicka’s presence in the side has been a boon for Hutter, who has had to deal with several injury problems in the backline. Moreover, the lack of options in the left-back department meant the Austrian was forced to utilise the young centre-back in a wide defensive role.
What can he offer to the table?
One of the main features of N’Dicka is his towering figure of 1.92m. It allows him to dominate the air while also making him an intimidating figure in the backline. The Frenchman has won almost two aerial duels per game this season with a success rate of 57%. His tally of 1.4 interceptions per match is also pretty impressive.
However, what makes him such an appealing target for clubs across Europe is his ability to play the ball out from the back. Indeed, the youngster is quite comfortable with the ball at his feet. He can find quick forward passes and evade any high press. It is a reason why Hutter has been able to utilise him as a left-back this season.
Do Arsenal really need N’Dicka?
N’Dicka could be a smart piece of investment for Arsenal for multiple reasons. As mentioned earlier, the Eintracht Frankfurt star could be available for just €25 million, which could make him financially more feasible than other targets like Dayot Upamecano or Issa Diop.
But more importantly, the 20-year-old can operate in different defensive roles aside from his favoured centre-back slot. That means he can not only compete with the likes of William Saliba and David Luiz but can also provide backup for Kieran Tierney at left-back, thus offering Mikel Arteta with more tactical options at his disposal.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
