Borussia Monchengladbach striker Alassane Plea is back in full training after a knee injury, according to Kicker, that could have denied rumoured suitors Arsenal a last-ditch transfer.
Plea suffered an awkward injury to his right knee after attempting to twist away against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. The issue forced the Frenchman off after 63-minutes, but he returned to training on Wednesday with the knee heavily strapped.
Plea was able to work through Adi Hutter’s routines without a hitch and should be cleared to face Union Berlin. Die Fohlen visit the capital side on Sunday chasing their first win of the Bundesliga term. Plea also scored their only goal so far in a 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich.
Hutter will rely on Plea leading the Monchengladbach attack against Union Berlin while without Marcus Thuram and Breel Embolo. The pair are sidelined with torn knee ligaments and a protracted thigh muscle, leaving 28-year-old Plea as Hutter’s only option.
Arsenal may be monitoring Plea’s fitness ahead of this weekend’s fixtures, having explored signing the Borussia Monchengladbach star. That’s according to the Daily Mail, who claim Mikel Arteta considered the one-cap forward a potential replacement for Eddie Nketiah.
Of course, Nketiah is yet to leave the Emirates Stadium, but reports by The Athletic have given Arsenal hope on that. They claim the 22-year-old wants to leave before Tuesday’s transfer deadline and that Crystal Palace want him, as well. However, the Eagles are only prepared to pay £10m for the England U21 marksman, while the Gunners want £20m.
Arsenal to revive interest in Monchengladbach star Plea to replace Nketiah?
Arsenal may keep a watchful eye on how Plea fares for Borussia Monchengladbach against Union Berlin, in case Nketiah leaves. Time is running out for Arteta to sign a replacement for the Crystal Palace target, so could revive his interest.
Plea would be a strong addition to the Gunners attack, should Technical Director Edu agree to terms with Die Fohlen. The Lyon product got off the mark for the new campaign with the opener against defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. He also fired 12 goals and five assists in 39 appearances last term, as a versatile threat under Marco Rose.
Potentially, then, offering Arteta a weapon to field on either side of his centre-forward or at striker. Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Christoph Kramer also lauds Plea as a player who “scores out of nothing”, via Bundesliga.com. Perfect for Arsenal if Nketiah goes.
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