According to Daily Star, Arsenal have drawn up a list of potential defensive targets in the summer, one which includes Jerome Boateng. The Gunners were linked with a move for the Bayern Munich defender earlier in the season, but a deal failed to materialise. However, they are still keeping an eye on Boateng, and a transfer to Emirates in the summer could be on the horizon.
Does Jerome Boateng have a future at FC Bayern?
There is no doubt that Boateng’s importance in the Bayern Munich setup has drastically decreased over the past couple of years. He was expected to play a secondary role in the first-team at the start of the campaign. But, injuries to players like Lucas Hernandez and Niklas Sule have forced Hansi Flick to continue relying on the German, mainly due to lack of options.
Indeed, Flick has had to deploy left-back David Alaba alongside Boateng at the heart of Bayern’s four-man backline, of late. As a result, the ageing defender has notched up 16 Bundesliga appearances.
However, Boateng’s current contract at Bayern expires at the end of next season. It is unlikely he will be given a new deal, meaning the Bavarians could lose him for free if they fail to offload the centre-back in the summer.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Bundesliga champions will opt to sign a new defender. But the return of Sule and Hernandez, coupled with Alaba’s impressive performances in his new role might just convince Bayern to get rid of their old guard in the summer, paving the way for Arsenal to make a move.
Is Boateng the answer to Arsenal’s defensive woes?
We might see significant changes being made in Arsenal’s defensive department in the summer. The likes of Shkodran Mustafi, Sokratis and Calum Chambers are all facing an uncertain future at the club following a dismal campaign.
Meanwhile, we could also see new faces, with the club having an option to permanently sign Pablo Mari while William Saliba will return from his loan spell at St. Etienne. The addition of Boateng, in that regard, should add more substance to the defensive unit, especially if someone like Sokratis leaves the club.
The German has vast experience at the highest level of football, making over 300 competitive appearances for Bayern. He has also won seven Bundesliga titles, one Champions League and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Therefore, he can bring the winning mentality to the Arsenal side.
More importantly, however, Boateng’s ability to play out from the back is what makes him an appealing target for the Gunners. He could even be an upgrade over the miserable David Luiz and form a solid partnership alongside someone like Mustafi or even Saliba.
