After a move in the summer that failed to transpire, maybe Leonardo Bonucci could be headed to London after all, according to reports.
Bonucci snubbed Chelsea in favour of AC Milan in the summer and is now being linked with a move to Arsenal. The Milan enterprise spent a fortune in the summer buying players in every possible position and redefining their squad. The arrival of the star defender from Juventus was supposed to be the ace in the trump. However, things have not gone all well for the red half of Milan with wins coming in patches but not in streaks. They are still struggling to hit top gear and has had an average start to the season for a team of their calibre.
There has been talk again of Arsenal trying to bring him in with Bonucci’s Milan career not going the way he wanted to. However, there will be obstacles to overcome. First and foremost, there will be a deal to strike with Milan where Bonucci has a contract till 2022.
Although a player of Bonucci’s quality would walk straight into any line-up across Europe right now, including Arsenal’s, the Gunners will have to deal with a problem of plenty. Bonucci will be an upgrade on their existing set of defenders but he will not guarantee ten years of football given the fact that he is already 30.
As for Arsenal, the Gunners have recently shifted to a 3-back formation which means the Gunners will be happy to have one more head at that position. Currently, the Gunners have Shkodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny, Rob Holding, Calum Chambers and Per Mertesacker vying for 3 centre-back positions. With Chambers having failed to impress so far, and Mustafi and Koscielny suffering frequent injuries so far this season, Arsenal will want to bring in a replacement who can play take on the mantle of the back three.
Bonucci can easily fit into the 3 man back line and can play anywhere across the back three in that defence. As for the player himself, the move may well present an opportunity to play in the world’s most followed league and after his time at Italy, the Italian might want to consider the opportunity of a fresh challenge in a foreign country.
The tempt of England will remain an option and if he does move it might just be the defensive signing the Gunners will need to have enough quality cover in defence.
