LIVE
...

Follow us on

Soccer Transfer News

Arsenal have bigger problems than reported battle for Radja Nainggolan

A general view of the Emirates Stadium ahead of the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 3, 2018 in Lond...
Follow us on Google Discover

Radja Nainggolan is a reported Arsenal target, but the signing of an attack-minded midfielder should be some way down the club’s list of priorities.

Cagliari's defender from Holland Gregory van der Wiel (R) fights for the ball with Roma's Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan during the Italian Serie A football match Roma vs Cagliari, on...

While Arsenal are yet to announce the identity of their new manager, there are already reports of who the next man could look to bring in this summer in the transfer market.

And The Sun report that former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, tipped for the job, will aim to spend £45million on Roma’s Radja Nainggolan.

Belgium international Nainggolan is undoubtedly a star, one of Europe’s very best midfielders on his day, but he is not necessarily what Arsenal need.

Head coach Luis Enrique of FC Barcelona looks on  during the Copa Del Rey Final between FC Barcelona and Deportivo Alaves at Vicente Calderon stadium on May 27, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.

His best work for Roma has come in an advanced midfield position – the same role that both Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan favour.

And Arsenal, potentially without Champions League football and battling Manchester United, may struggle to convince Nainggolan to sign up, too.

Regardless of these factors, the Gunners have far bigger issues for their new manager to deal with than the recruitment of yet another attacking midfield talent.

If Luis Enrique or any other new man has funds to attack the summer, he must surely prioritise a goalkeeper, a centre-back and a central midfielder first.

Radja Nainggolan of Belgium looks on during the international friendly match between Belgium and Saudi Arabia at the King Baudouin Stadium on March 27, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium.

And the next task would surely be to find a system that suits Arsenal’s best players, while coaching them to improve.

Arguably a big issue under Arsene Wenger in recent years has been to throw money at a headline-grabbing star in a bid to appease supporters and paper over the cracks.

Things must be different now.