Arsenal had a blistering start to the campaign but lost the plot midway. However, they are back in the ‘top four’ race of late banking on some astounding outcomes and have already started identifying their summer targets. According to Daily Mail, the Gunners have registered their interest in Argentine centre-back Walter Kannemann who is currently playing his football in Brazil with Gremio.
The 28-year-old Albiceleste international started his career at San Lorenzo before moving to Mexico where he spent around one-and-a-half year with Atlas. A transfer to Gremio took place in summer 2016, and the player soon made his presence known in the heart of the backline.
Kannemann is known for his combative nature, hard tackling traits and an immense physical presence inside the box. Some clubs are monitoring his status including Independiente, Flamengo and Boca Juniors, but a reported £10.2m buy-out clause might force them to cool down their interest in the central defensive ace.
The Argentine, popular as ‘the Viking’, would be a decent acquisition in a moderate fee considering Arsenal’s budget limitations. He is left-footed, therefore, would slot in as a left-sided centre-half and compete with the likes of Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos for a regular role.
Koscielny is approaching his mid-thirties and has suffered persistent injury problems over the past few campaigns. Mustafi has failed to live up to the hype and received criticism lately for his erroneous displays. Reinforcements are required in the Gunners defence, and the inclusion of Kannemann would indeed increase the strength allowing Unai Emery to restructure his side from the back.
The defender, meanwhile, is also in Atletico Madrid’s radar as they are set to lose veteran Diego Godin at the end of the current campaign. Diego Simeone previously managed Kannemann briefly during his days at San Lorenzo which, subsequently, might hand the La Liga heavyweights a significant push to rope him in.
Although the Argentine needs to work on his passing game, his ability to create space while carrying the ball forward would help the Gunners to make a swift attacking transition from behind. However, the player must adjust to the grind and demand of English football if a move to North London takes place once the season reaches its conclusion and Arsenal, too, should step up the chase and tie him down at the earliest ahead of other admirers.
