If the recent reports are to be believed then Arsenal are tracking Sassuolo forward Gregoire Defrel. Arsène Wenger has sent scouts to watch the player three times already this season and the scouts are impressed with the player. Defrel is a French footballer who has spent his entire professional career in Italy, playing for clubs like Parma, Foggia and Cesena.
Last year, the forward signed for Sassuolo, scoring 7 times and assisting 3 in 33 Serie A games as the club secured their best ever finish in top flight ending their campaign ahead of A.C Milan and S.S Lazio in 6th place.
The name of Defrel might come as a big surprise to many but the 25-year-old has shown great improvement over the years to earn some plaudits. Since joining Sassuolo, the player has really been very impressive with his overall display, showing obvious signs of improvement.
Swansea and Crystal Palace were both interested in getting him this past January, with the player starting this season in scintillating form scoring 4 goals in 5 Serie A games and 1 goal in their first ever Europa League game against Athletic Bilbao. The 25-year-old player is now not only monitored by Arsenal but also Liverpool, which shows that he has not only been able to elevate his game but also his reputation apparently.
Defrel is not the out and out centre forward but he can play as one. The beauty lies in the fact that the 5 ft 11 in Frenchman is very versatile, being equally comfortable across any position in the forward area. He is an excellent dribbler, which enables him to have an impact on games from the wide areas using the half spaces expertly.
Defrel’s dribbling abilities have drawn comparisons with one his fellow countryman in Jeremy Menez, who was also an excellent dribbler. The interest in Defrel from Arsenal is a big indication of how Arsène Wenger wants things to be in the future. With Olivier Giroud seemingly in his last year(s) of being a vital part of the plan of the Gunners squad, we would be experiencing more and more players in the mould of Defrel in the future.
Wenger has always been someone who has a good idea about how a player can develop in the future, as he has shown in the past with innumerable names, nurturing them all and developing them into some very prominent names of world football. The Arsenal manager feels that the 25-year-old can develop into someone who will not only be important for the squad but will also outshine his transfer fees with his displays.
The prospect of working under Arsène Wenger still continues to be one of the most sought after things in football for any young player and there won’t be any problems in getting the Sassuolo striker on board if the club makes a move in the near future.
A striker who can score goals, has very good physicality, is versatile and most importantly contributes in the defensive phase with his work rate is the one which a team embracing the modern football tactics will love to have in the team and so will be Arsenal as they look to evolve further more and more as we enter into the future of club football with every passing season.
